Museum L-A in Lewiston has been selected as one of only 20 museums throughout the U.S. to receive a grant from Aroha Philanthropies through its initiative Seeding Vitality Arts in Museums, according to a news release from Seeding Vitality Arts in Museums, based in Minneapolis.

Chosen from a highly competitive field of applicants, the museum will partner with Aroha Philanthropies in this initiative designed to support the development and expansion of successful creative aging programs.

The 20 museums chosen are as follows: Adventure Science Center, Nashville, Tenn.; Albuquerque Museum Foundation, New Mexico; Anchorage Museum Association, Alaska; Craft & Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, California; Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, Chicago, Illllinois; Heard Museum, Pheonix, Arizona; John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Museo de Historia, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Museum L-A, Lewiston; Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson, Arizona; Naples Botanical Garden, Naples, Florida.; National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, Illinois; Neon Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada; Ohio History Connection, Columbus, Ohio; Rutger-Camden Center for the Arts, Camden, New Jersey; Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky; The Louisiana Museum Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana; The Olana Partnership, Hudson, New York; Union County Historical Society and Heritage Museum, New Albany, Mississippi.

“You are part of a fabulous cohort of 20 museums that will learn together throughout the next two years and become leaders in this emerging movement to bring the arts and creativity to active older adults,” said Teresa Bonner, Aroha Philanthropies executive director, according to the release. “We’re grateful for your commitment to Vitality Arts and your willingness to play a leadership role in this field and movement. We look forward to partnering with you to make this initiative a great success.”

“Museum L-A is delighted to partner in the Seeding Vitality Arts in Museums initiative to not only support our community but contribute to a growing movement to bring the many benefits of creative aging to communities far and wide,” said Kate Webber, director of Education and Outreach who with Emma Sieh, Collections and Exhibit Coordinator, will join Aroha for two days of leadership training for the movement, according to the release.

Vitality Arts programs inspire and enable older adults to learn, make and share the arts in ways that is novel, complex and socially engaging. The work is driven by teaching artists whose creative process and understanding of older adults bring joy, connection, improved health and well-being, and a renewed sense of purpose to older adults in community and residential settings.

“Museum L-A is thrilled to join Aroha Philanthropies at the forefront of the emerging field of creative aging. Aroha Philanthropies’ generous grant will support our Art of Creative Aging Program, which we have wanted to launch for a few years now and is designed to inspire and enable older adults to learn while looking at aging in a different light and encouraging more active lifestyles. Today 80 has become the new 60 and our older population wants to stay involved much longer in many new ways,” said Rachel Desgrosseilliers, executive director of Museum L-A, according to the release. “Today, we can expect 30 more years of life than past generations — years that hold tremendous, but often untapped, potential for vitality and contribution. As we age, our capacity for creativity increases. We seek meaning and connection. Aroha Philanthropies believes the arts are transformative.”

For more information about Museum L-A, visit museumla.org. For more information about Seeding Vitality Arts MN, visit vitalityarts.org.