The New Jersey State Council on the Arts has announced a new inter-agency partnership with the newly established New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs to launch high-quality arts learning programs tailored specifically for older adult residents living in the state’s veterans homes.
The initiative is made possible through a competitive national grant awarded to New Jersey by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) and E.A. Michelson Philanthropy under their “Creative Aging, Creative Futures” program. New Jersey was selected as one of just 28 state arts agencies in the country to receive the federal and philanthropic funding.
The grant will directly expand the state’s existing Creative Aging Initiative, embedding structured arts education and creative engagement into daily life at the state’s three flagship residential facilities: the Menlo Park, Paramus, and Vineland Veterans Memorial Homes. Studies have continually demonstrated that sustained creative engagement among older adults improves medical health outcomes, counters cognitive decline, strengthens social networks, and significantly boosts overall quality of life.
“I am excited to see this innovative new partnership between state agencies,” Lt. Governor Dr. Dale Caldwell, who oversees the Arts Council in his capacity as New Jersey’s Secretary of State, said. “This collaboration highlights the very best of state government, uplifting one of the many ways Governor Sherrill and I continue to work towards exemplary public programs that support people across the state efficiently and with purpose.”
The program is designed to move beyond passive entertainment, offering structured, multi-week instructional courses where residents can master new artistic mediums, share personal histories, and display their final works.
“We are deeply grateful for this investment and excited to bring the power of creativity to support senior health and wellness directly to the Menlo Park, Paramus, and Vineland Veterans Memorial Homes,” Vincent Solomeno, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs said. “This grant enables our team to expand meaningful, enriching programming that honors the lives, stories, and continued growth of the veterans, veteran spouses, and Gold Star Families who call our facilities home.”
Established in 1966, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts operates as a division of the Department of State and remains a primary partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, working to integrate artistic opportunities into public education, community growth, and civic spaces throughout the state.
