Exploring the Impacts of Arts Participation on Healthy Ageing

This short report provides a synopsis of the research conducted on a series of art classes for older adults in Rexdale, Toronto. The classes were funded by a New Horizons grant, arranged by Rexdale Community Health Centre (RCHC) in partnership with Franklin Carmichael Art Group (FCAG), who hosted the classes. The research was funded under the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Health Equity & Community Wellbeing. The researcher, Dr. Temba Middelmann, used a series of focus groups, one-to-one interviews, and observations at classes and the exhibition, speaking to 41 participants, 4 staff members and 6 teachers. The focus was on participant experiences in relation to personal, collective and contextual factors affecting health and wellbeing. The research found multiple benefits that connected social, artistic, and psychological factors. These preliminary findings suggest the multi-levelled power of art to assist directly with difficult mental health concerns, simultaneously helping to address social isolation and loneliness, with various positive impacts on health and wellbeing.