Exploring seniors' access to engagement of the arts.
Direct[Message] was a three-year, multi-phase community arts and digital strategy research project led by Centre[4]Arts, focused on intergenerational collaboration, reciprocal learning, and knowledge exchange.
The project aimed to develop a digital system that would provide access to and engagement with the arts for older and aging adults in our local communities of Hamilton, Guelph, and London, Ontario.
Direct[Message]’s research investigated how digital tools improve and transform the ways in which the elderly and aging adults access and interact with the arts, particularly those living with disabilities such as memory loss, hearing or vision impairments, or reduced mobility.
The Direct[Message] team was an interdisciplinary collective of artists, academics, and community members from McMaster University, Vibrafusion Lab in London, Cinematronics in Hamilton, and Re•Vision: The Centre for Art & Social Justice, a storytelling hub at the University of Guelph.
At the core of this initiative was a commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and sustainability. A focus was put on ensuring that digital solutions were designed both with and for older adults, and that they addressed real social barriers such as isolation, disconnection, and lack of access to the arts.
Direct[Message] aimed to use a combination of community arts practices and evidence-based research to improve and transform the aging community’s access to and engagement with the arts via the development of a low-cost, open-source digital prototype.
The resulting Seniors Art Link website provides a digital platform designed to support older adults in exploring and engaging with the arts. It offers free, accessible resources to help foster creativity, reduce social isolation, and promote lifelong learning.
Research began with workshop-style interviews to uncover the needs, preferences, and barriers experienced by older adults when it came to accessing arts and culture in their communities. These interviews took place across the participants’ hometowns and provided a foundation for the design phase.
Using the insights gathered, the Direct [Message] team co-designed and tested a series of physical device prototypes and digital application prototypes that were intuitive and adaptable to various levels of ability. The aim was to make arts access simple, tactile, and enriching for all.
A key outcome of this Direct[Message] research project was the curation of Seniors Art Link – a digital platform for intergenerational connection through shared experiences in arts, creativity, and daily living.
Seniors Art Link provides a comprehensive online collection of easily accessible info, including:
Digital Literacy Tutorials: Step-by-step guides for Android, iOS, MacOS, and Windows devices, helping users to navigate technology confidently.
Multilingual Content: Available in multiple languages to cater to diverse communities.
Community Stories: Personal narratives and experiences from older adults participating in the arts.
Practice Journal: Access to ‘Age + Creation’, a journal focusing on artistic engagement among older adults.
All resources are shared under a Creative Commons license, ensuring they are free to use and adapt for personal or community use.
Direct[Message] research was developed with support from the Canada Council for the Arts.
