Arts education program to improve well being of older adults.

MetLife Foundation and the National Guild for Community Arts Education have announced that McGroarty Arts Center in Tujunga is a recipient of a grant as part of the 2012 MetLife Foundation Creative Aging Program. Technical assistance and grants totaling more than $90,000 have been awarded to nine nonprofit arts education organizations that will deepen and expand professionally-led arts education programs for older adults. Each of the grantees has demonstrated the capacity to develop programs that can increase participants’ social engagement as well as mastery of one or more art forms.

“With this MetLife Foundation Creative Aging Program grant, we will be able to continue the way we engage our senior community and sustain a successful creative aging program in Sunland-Tujunga,” said Monica Hicks, communications associate.

McGroarty Arts Center provides older adults – age 55-plus – with the ongoing opportunity to participate in creative, skill-based arts instruction. The Center has ongoing arts classes for seniors at Sunland Senior Center in Sunland, Alicia Broadus Duncan MultiPurpose Center in Pacoima, Oakview Convalescent Home and Foothill Retirement Home in Tujunga.

For more information about these classes visit www.mcgroartyartscenter.org.