Fairfax County Senior Centers and ARTSFAIRFAX are preparing to launch an Artist Residency program that will offer more in depth creative aging opportunities for Fairfax County's 50+ community. The new program is an off-shoot program from the annual Creative Aging Festival which celebrates the positive effects the arts and creative engagement have on older adults.
The program was created based on the model of ARTSFAIRFAX's successful Artist Residency partnership with local schools. The program offers local artists an opportunity to share their expertise and provide a hands-on creative experience like no other for those who participate. Artist Residencies will begin at four Fairfax County Senior Centers in mid-August and offer experiences in multiple artistic disciplines including music, ceramics, dance and improv.
Senior Center Artist Residency Programs
Artist: Kofi Dennis
For many generations past, children, adults and the elderly in West African villages have celebrated and stayed connected with one another through the effective use of the drums. The drum language is universal, and it’s a means of communication that connects every part of our faculties which creates balance and focus. In this exciting residency, participants will explore the West African djembre drum and its accompanied accessories like the bell, shekere and the dunduns!
Location: Sully Senior Center (14426 Albemarle Point Place, Chantilly, VA 20151)
Phone: 703-322-4475
Dates: Mondays & Wednesdays, August 12 - October 21*
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
*No classes on August 26 (Monday), August 28 (Wednesday), September 2 (Monday), and October 14 (Monday)
Artist: Suzy Scollon
This residency promotes empathy and self-discovery among peers and the global community by engaging students in storytelling through ceramic narrative art projects. Students share transformative personal stories and express aspects of the stories by incorporating related imagery or symbols in narrative ceramic relief tiles.
Location: South County Senior Center (8350 Richmond Highway, Suite 325, Alexandria, VA 22309)
Phone: 703-704-6216
Dates: Wednesdays and Thursdays, August 14 - September 5*
Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
*No classes on August 28 (Wednesday), and September 4 (Wednesday).
Photo courtesy of Capitol Media USA.
Artist: Janet Stormes
This residency provides an opportunity for participants to explore different styles of dance, including modern dance, ballet, jazz, and improvisation, to discover their own movement style. Each session of the residency focuses on one dance style through warm-up exercises and movement combinations. The residency will culminate in a movement improvisation session where the participants will have the opportunity to synthesize what they have learned into their own movement style.
Location: Lincolnia Senior Center (4710 North Chambliss Street, Alexandria, VA 22312)
Phone: 703-914-0330
Dates/Times: Tuesdays (12:30 to 1:45 p.m.) and Wednesdays (9:45 to 10:45 a.m.), August 13 - September 11*
*No classes on August 27 (Tuesday) or August 28 (Wednesday).
Photo courtesy of Capitol Media USA.
Artist: Heidi Fortune Picker
In this residency students will learn the building blocks to create successful improvisations onstage. Exercise your creativity as you work with others to create stories, play games, and have fun!
Location: Lewinsville Senior Center (1613 Great Falls Street, McLean, VA 22101)
Phone: 703-442-9075
Dates/Times: Wednesdays (12:45 to 1:45 p.m.), August 21- November 6
Photo courtesy of Capitol Media USA.
Senior Center membership is required to participate in the Artist Residency program.
For information about specific classes or if you would like to purchase a membership to Fairfax County's Senior Center Network - including 14 locations countywide - please contact the participating center.
