Intergenerational art class at MSU seeks to bridge age gap, partner academia and community
Missouri State University aims to bridge the gap between academia and the local community with a new, intergenerational art class this spring semester. Traditional students (ages 18-22) will work and collaborate alongside community members of all ages in the art class intended for both beginner and advanced artists. Community involvement is critical to the program's success and enrollment is closing soon.
The class, Intergenerational Artistic Expression, is offered Jan. 23 through May 18 on Mondays from 10:10-11:50 a.m. at Brick City, located at 215 W. Mill St. The 16-week course is a collaboration between the university's gerontology program and art and design department. Enrollment closes on Friday, Jan. 27.
Class instructor Diane Denton has years of experience working with senior citizens to make and discuss art through her Young at Art program. Established in 2018, the free program is facilitated through SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging. Denton teaches introductory courses on mediums like acrylic paint, watercolor, sketching and pastels. She said Intergenerational Artistic Expression at Missouri State will function similarly to the classes she teaches at the senior center.
The first eight weeks of the class will focus on watercolor painting and the final eight will focus on acrylic painting. Starting out, Denton will provide demonstrations and prompts for beginning students, but as the semester goes on, she hopes they will begin creating their own, individual works.
Traditional and non-traditional students will be asked to work directly together for two group projects during the semester. Denton said the first project's prompt will be, "How we survived the pandemic?" and the second will be, "What brings you joy?"
Denton said she starts each one of her classes with a short story or quote, to get students thinking "outside of how they perceive art." Along with creating physical art, Intergenerational Artistic Expression will focus on facilitating discussions between academic and non-academic perspectives.
"A really important part of each class is talking about art in meaningful ways, from a place of curiosity and wonder," Denton said.
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A focus on life-long learning
In November 2021, Missouri State became the first university in the state to be inducted into the Age-Friendly University Global Network. This international network allows educational institutions to "learn about emerging age-friendly efforts to contribute to an educational movement of social, personal and economic benefits to students of all ages."
Missouri State psychology associate professor Lisa Cox Hall is the gerontology program coordinator for the new art class. She said there are many benefits to people of different ages being in the same class together, including the breaking down of stereotypes.
Hall added that she anticipates traditional students will receive more than just art education through the class.
"I think this is the kind of course that can be a form of self-care for them (traditional students) because they're involved in creativity, because it's something different than reading and taking tests," Hall said. "Also, there is a possibility that students may even gain reassurance and support from the older students in the course."
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Free tuition for community members over 62
As part of a state-mandated program, Missouri State offers MSU 62, a non-degree adult seeking fee waiver program. Eligible folks may enroll in one class per fall and spring semester at no tuition cost under the program. However, additional costs like special course fees, required textbooks and supplies and parking passes are not waived. For Intergenerational Artistic Expression, all art supplies will be provided by the university.
On average, about 80 people participate in the MSU 62 program per semester, Hall said.
To qualify for MSU 62, one must be:
A Missouri resident;
Age 62 or older;
Non-degree seeking;
Enrolling in either undergraduate or graduate courses.
Enrollment for MSU 62 began on Thursday and will remain open through Friday, Jan. 27. Enrollment must be completed online at adultstudents.missouristate.edu/msu62.htm. Questions should be directed to Adult Student Services at 417-836-6629.
As of Thursday, five traditional students are enrolled in Intergenerational Artistic Expression. Hall said the university would like to see a total of 15 students in the pilot class.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State offers free intergenerational art class for seniors
