ArtsInspire™ encapsulates the idea that whether one continues a lifelong passion or pursues a new hobby later in life, the arts inspire ageless creativity!
Host an ArtsInspire™ Contest Within Your Community! - [Download PDF Toolkit]
Previously, LeadingAge Texas organized an annual ArtsInspire™ contest to showcase the incredible artistic achievements of our members' senior living residents. However, we have now transitioned to a new phase, empowering our members
to host their own ArtsInspire™ and #AgelessCreativity campaigns internally. By doing so, we aim to create a sustainable platform for ongoing celebration and recognition of the arts within your communities.
Contest Overview and Guidelines:
- Contest purpose: Celebrate the remarkable artistic talents of our senior living residents through the #ArtsInspire contest, showcasing their #AgelessCreativity
and promoting a positive image of aging.
- Categories and eligibility: Categories include Visual Arts and Written Arts. Eligibility criteria specify that submissions must be created by senior living
residents within the community.
- Submission guidelines: Submissions can be in various mediums and formats. Specify the deadline for submissions and any specific requirements for each category
(e.g., dimensions for visual artwork, word count for written pieces).
- View sample categories & timeline
Promotional Materials:
- Poster and flyer templates: Customize eye-catching posters and flyers to display throughout the community, featuring the contest details, submission deadlines,
and instructions on how to participate.
- Social media graphics: Engage residents and their families by sharing visually appealing graphics on social media platforms. Encourage them to spread the word
and share their own stories of #AgelessCreativity.
- Sample text: Share the contest and campaign in community newsletters, website announcements, and social media posts. Highlight the importance of the contest
in fostering creativity and encouraging residents to participate. Emphasize the positive impact of arts on well-being and challenge stereotypes about aging.
- View sample promotional language
Submission Management:
- Submission collection: Create a designated drop-off point or a digital platform for residents to submit their artworks or written pieces. Clearly communicate
the process, including contact information for any questions or assistance.
- Entry form template: Provide a standardized entry form template that residents can fill out with their name, category, title of their work, and any additional
information required.
- View sample submission template
Judging Process:
- Judge selection: Encourage the involvement of local artists, professors, or arts professionals as judges. Highlight their expertise and passion for nurturing
creativity in older adults.
- Judging criteria: Provide a template for a judging criteria rubric, ensuring fair evaluation across different categories. Consider elements such as originality,
technical skill, emotional impact, and storytelling.
- Judging presentation template: Create a PowerPoint template to showcase the submissions during the judging process. Anonymize the entries and categorize them
by contest category, enabling judges to review and evaluate them efficiently.
- Judging Platform: Utilize an online survey platform like SurveyMonkey to streamline the judging process. Judges can access the judging presentation through
the survey and rank entries in each category based on the provided criteria.
- Tallying results: Decide your process for calculating results based on judges' rankings. Decide how you will handle tie-breaker scenarios if needed.
- Winner selection: Calculate the results to determine the winners in each category based on the calculated results. Consider additional recognition for
honorable mentions or special achievements.
Optional In-Person Judging:
- In-person finalist judging: If desired, schedule and organize an in-person finalist judging phase for the visual arts categories. This allows judges to view
the artwork in person and make final rankings based on their observations and interactions with the artists.
- Display guidelines: Create a mini gallery or designated space to exhibit the finalists' artwork. Consider visual aesthetics, proper labeling, and accessibility
for residents and visitors.
- Final ranked judging process: Outline the steps for judges to conduct the final ranked judging based on their in-person viewing. Emphasize the importance of
maintaining fairness and transparency in the process.
- View sample in-person judging form
Winners Announcement and Celebration:
- Announcement: Announce the winners in each category. Include their names, winning entries, and a brief description of their artistic achievements. Congratulate
all participants for their contributions.
- Awards ceremony planning: Plan an in-person or virtual awards ceremony and reception.
- Recognition ideas: Offer awards and prizes, such as ribbons, certificates, trophies, or other symbolic tokens of achievement. Consider presenting winners with
their artwork or written pieces professionally framed.
- View sample celebration event toolkit
Post-Contest Celebration and Promotion:
- Social media promotion: Share participants and winners' artwork or written pieces on social media using the contest hashtag #AgelessCreativity. Share contest
highlights, winning entries, and stories of creative journeys on your community's social media platforms.
- Community newsletter: Showcase winning entries and share the impact of #AgelessCreativity within your senior living community. Include interviews with winners,
resident testimonials, and photos from the contest.
- Media outreach: Reach out to local media outlets to share the contest results and stories of resident creativity. Craft press releases, contacting journalists,
and highlighting the positive impact of the arts in senior living.
- View sample social media and media content
The materials provided in this toolkit are intended as guidelines and suggestions for hosting your own ArtsInspire™ contest within your community. We understand that each community is unique, and you are encouraged to customize
these materials to fit your specific needs and preferences.
Feel free to adapt the contest timeline, guidelines, and promotional materials according to your community's schedule and branding. You can add your own creative touch to the social media graphics, posters, and flyers provided,
making them align with your community's visual identity.
The judging process, including judge selection, criteria, and presentation templates, can be tailored to reflect the expertise and preferences of your local community. Adjust the judging platform to a format that works best for
you, whether it's an online survey tool or an alternative method that suits your community's resources and capabilities.
Incorporate any optional in-person aspects, such as the finalist judging or awards ceremony, based on your community's capacity and preferences. Adapt the winners' announcement templates and celebration plans to create a memorable
experience that resonates with your residents and community members.
Remember, this toolkit is designed to inspire and support you in creating an engaging and meaningful ArtsInspire™ contest. Feel free to modify, expand upon, or innovate based on your community's unique circumstances and objectives.
Let your creativity flourish as you showcase the remarkable talents of your senior living residents.
Note: The ArtsInspire™ Contest is a trademarked initiative of LeadingAge Texas. Proper usage of the campaign name and logo is required. Please refer to the Terms of Use document for guidelines on using the ArtsInspire™ logo and related materials.
