ABSTRACT
Participatory art programming holds the potential to create and transform social relationships through creative self-expression and connection. The purpose of this chapter is to investigate the intersection of art education, social integration, and community development through the lens of intergenerational art programming. By examining two distinct intergenerational artmaking projects using action research, the author explores the possibilities and challenges within the emerging field of Creative Aging. In the first project, the author works with older adults and university students focusing on aging, memory, and place. In the other, older adults and high school students come together to learn and teach skills in technology, storytelling, and creative self-expression. Topics address (a) results of diverse populations coming together in a social context for participatory artmaking, storytelling, and sharing knowledge; (b) how the author, as an artist and art educator, engaged participants in critical and meaningful dialogue; (c) the struggles, conflicts, and significant moments experienced in intergenerational art programs; and (d) how intergenerational art programs affected the personal and social realities of participants.
