Creative Aging is the centerpiece of The Phillips Collection’s art and wellness programs, reflecting founder Duncan Phillips’s belief in the profound and positive impact that art can have on our well-being. Partnering with local organizations, these Creative Aging programs bring “joy-giving and life-enhancing” experiences through the arts to older adults living with memory loss.

Creative Aging at The Phillips Collection began 13 years ago with one partner, Iona Senior Services. Now the museum’s partnerships and programs include Arts for the Aging, Capitol Hill Village’s Memory Studio, and Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center, along with Reframing Care: Art + Wellness which launched in 2023 and is open to the public. These programs take place both at the museum and the senior centers. In the galleries, Phillips Educators facilitate conversations about works of art through observation and inquiry, encourage participants to share ideas, identify feelings, connect with one another, and celebrate the present moment. At the centers or at the museum, teaching artists lead studio projects that respond to the gallery experiences. This exhibition presents the results of these creative endeavors.

IMAGE: Artwork created during Reframing Care program.

The Phillips Collection is grateful to the Dosal Family Foundation for funding Reframing Care: Mindfulness + Art. With special thanks to Paul and Terri Balaran for additional support of the museum’s Creative Aging programs.