cReative YOUth over 65

<< Background >>The older adult population of the European Union is growing rapidly. In 2019, there were 90.4 million older people (aged 65 years or more) living in the EU-27. Italy was the European country with the largest share of elderly population (22,8%). As the EU population ages, it is significantly important to promote a quality of life for older adults that both maintains health and is meaningful. The project addressed the needs of seniors in Europe, in particular, the need for social inclusion and support to combat loneliness. Many older individuals face isolation, which can lead to mental health issues and reduced quality of life. By engaging seniors in art and creativity activities and the organisation of international exhibitions, we respond the need while promote active engagement in their local communities and created structured opportunities for challenging themselves and explore their identity through art. Finally, the project was an opportunity to showcase the artistic achievements of elder artists to challenge stereotypes about aging and provide older adults the chance to engage within their communities and across Europe.<< Objectives >>The project met the needs of the participating organisations to expand their adult education offer to new target groups, particularly adults aged 65+, while learning how to address their needs and put in practices measures for support.The project also answered the need of expanding the Erasmus+ programme to seniors and implement international mobilities for this target group, allowing to strengthen European connections among older adults.The overall objective of R YOU 65 was to promote the quality of life for older adults (+65 years old) that both maintains health and is meaningful. This objective was divided into the following specific objectives:1. Allow seniors to further proclaim their identity2. Expose seniors to the usage of art works to unveil their culture3. Give a unique window into the minds and thoughts of the elders4. Widen Erasmus+ programme popularity to different aged bands5. Allow the elders to make commentary on the culture around them6. Contribute to successful agingUltimately, the project aimed at empowering seniors through creativity, enabling them to reflect on their own culture through international experiences, and challenging them by making art and organising cross-national expositions.<< Implementation >>The project had three main activities:1) Preparation & production of a piece of art This activity involved the creation of artworks in each country. Participants were selected through shared criteria and were supported by our trainers to create artworks of different types. The methodology has been different in each country but by the end of this activity, all participants had experimented with different art forms and had created original pieces.2) LTTA mobilitiesThis activity involved the organisation of international exhibitions in each participating country with artworks of the national participants and a group from one of the other countries. The Italian participants travelled to Spain, the Spanish participants travelled to Ireland, and the Irish participants travelled to Italy. Each exhibition reached over 60 people in the local communities and was promoted on the social media of the project and of its partners and on local media.3) Analysis of the impactThe final part of the project aimed at assessing the impact of the work done on the participants and the stakeholders involved. Through the use of mixed data-gathering methodologies, e.g. interviews and surveys, we created an impact report for the project.<< Results >>The project reached 17 seniors across the participanting countries and the creation of the artworks have allowed them to explore their identity, explore their own culture, and – through the international exhibition – explore the culture and identity of peers in other EU countries. The project has allowed the seniors to develop creative skills and challenge themselves through the organistion of international exhibitions. Through the organisation of international exhibitions in each participating country, we have reached the local communities and promote the importance of active ageing through arts and creativity. Finally, the project have allowed to expand the adult education services of the participating organisations to adults aged 65+, while increasing the understanding of their needs and how to support this target group.