Explore Our
Intergenerational Programs
Project Ripples Intergenerational Programs bring together older adults and volunteers in creative art-making and educational experiences that foster connection, self-expression, and cognitive engagement.
Designed for older adults (65+) in residential communities and senior centers, these workshops use art as a tool for combating isolation, supporting cognitive health, and creating meaningful intergenerational connections, offering participants opportunities to explore creative practices in supportive, respectful environments that honor their experiences and perspectives.
Core Areas of Focus
Creative Expression
Intergenerational Programs give older adults space to explore art-making as a form of personal expression and reflection. Participants engage with art movements like Abstract Expressionism, connecting their own emotional experiences and memories to creative practice.
Cognitive and Social Engagement
Our programs are designed to support cognitive function, reduce stress, and combat social isolation through collaborative art-making and discussion. Research shows that engaging in the arts can improve well-being for older adults, particularly those experiencing dementia or memory challenges.
Voice and Recognition
We create opportunities for older adults to be seen as active creators whose perspectives and artistic contributions matter. Through public exhibitions, participants experience their work honored and displayed, restoring a sense of agency and purpose in life.
Art History Workshop Model
This model engages older adult participants in a multi-disciplinary exploration of different art movements while engaging in intergenerational conversations and creating deep connections. The program culminates in a gallery show, open to the public, which empowers participants to share and take pride in their artwork.
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Project Ripples developed this Intergenerational Program model after conducting a three-month research study exploring how art history and art making could positively impact the health and wellbeing of older adults. We lead hands-on art workshops where older adults explore art movements like Abstract Expressionism through collaborative discussion and creative practice. Participants learn about artists like Pollock and Rothko while creating their own original artworks, culminating in gallery exhibitions where their work is displayed publicly.
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These workshops serve older adults in senior centers and residential communities, including those experiencing cognitive changes, social isolation, or limited access to creative programming.
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Participants gain new creative skills, increased social connection, and cognitive stimulation through art making and art history learning. We hope for our participants to experience renewed confidence and purpose, with families and community members witnessing the depth and vitality of older adults’ artistic expression through public exhibition.
Previous Intergenerational Programs
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Every Day Sights
an intergenerational art program and gallery with Engage and Metro Compton Senior Apartments
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Emotion in Motion
an intergenerational art history program and gallery with Pasadena Senior Center