OMA Webinar | Age is Not a Limitation: What Happened When We Took Older Adults Seriously as Creators

The Creative Aging Institute at the Akron Art Museum has evolved from a specialized program into a strategic audience development initiative that gives adults ages 55 and older a dedicated place within museum engagement. This discussion explores the program’s growth, the challenges encountered, and the opportunities created by reframing “special programming” as a core part of the museum’s mission and audience strategy. This shift strengthened the museum’s commitment to older adults while creating sustainable opportunities for participation and connection.

Learn from Merry Pertroski how the Institute has become a model for supporting healthy aging and building more inclusive communities through intentional programming and community-centered practices, and how you can implement these ideas at your museum. At its core, the Creative Aging Institute supports adults 55+ through programs that encourage creativity, lifelong learning, and personal expression. The work at the Akron Art Museum demonstrates how arts engagement can foster social connection, reduce isolation, and challenge ageist stereotypes by recognizing older adults as active contributors to cultural life.

About our speaker:

Drawing on over a decade of experience in senior living and dementia care, Merry Petroski currently serves as Educator for Lifelong Learning and a program manager of the Creative Aging Institute at the Akron Art museum. Merry designs art-making workshops for adults 55+, leads community outreach initiatives, and develops museum experiences for individuals living with dementia. Her work focuses on raising awareness around ageism, fostering social connections, and expanding access to the arts.

When: Monday, August 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. CDT

Where: Online – complete webinar login details will be sent to participants after registering

Cost: $15 – OMA Members; $20 Non-members

TAM Members: Use code TAMMEMBER at checkout to receive the OMA member rate.

Please contact Johnna McEntee at oma@ohiohistory.org or 614.361.5613 if you do not see the $15 member rate after using the code, or run into any issues when registering.

Register: Click here to register

Registration deadline: August 21, 2026