Creative Aging

Explore your creative potential at the Library! Join us for free workshops.

The New York Public Library is delighted to offer Creative Aging workshops for adults 50 and older, and for the first time, we're hosting Creative Aging this fall!

Come discover a new art medium or deepen your skills in a practice you’ve explored before! Program topics include acting, knitting and crochet, writing, drawing, painting, and more.

See the calendar below for locations and details on our workshops, scheduled to begin in November. Creative Aging Programs are available from branches throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island.

Logo for Creative Aging Fall 2023

Each class runs for 5-8 consecutive sessions. Attendance at all sessions is recommended. Most programs require preregistration. If you are interested in registering for a program, please visit the branch location page at nypl.org/locations or call the branch directly. For more details about individual programs, scroll to the calendar at the bottom of the page.

Join us at a location below!

58th St - Memoir Writing with teaching artist Frank Ingrasciotta:

Allerton - "Bronx Fantastic" Drawing workshops with comic artist Ivan Velez: 

Baychester - "Acting for the Fun of It" Theatre Workshops with teaching artist Frank Ingrasciotta:  

Grand Concourse - Visual Nar rative For Older Adults art workshop with cartoonist  Medar de la Cruz:

Harry Belafonte - Storytelling from Somatics: Watercolor & Dance workshop with artist Leah Yassky of Urban Stages:

Jefferson Market Library - Print + Process, a printmaking and zine workshop with teaching artist Fan Kong: 

  • CANCELLED

Macomb's Bridge - Visual Narrative For Older Adults art workshop with cartoonist  Medar de la Cruz:

Morningside Heights  - Self-Portrait Painting with multi-disciplinary artist Whit Harris: 

Morris Park - Crochet Circles:  Easy Fiber Arts Workshop with artist Ruth Marshall:

Parkchester  - “Paint Your Heart Out” painting workshops with the Art Studio NY:

Roosevelt Island - Discover Your Place in Nature: Drawing and Painting with Peggy Roalf:

Spuyten Duyvil - “ARTOPIA” mixed-media art making workshop with comic artist Ivan Velez:

Throg's Neck Library  -  "It’s All About Crochet" Easy Fiber Arts Workshop with Sandra Ramirez:

Tottenville - Playback Theater + Storytelling - Community Theatre with Yibin Wang of Urban Stages:

Westchester Square - “Collage Heart Out" collage workshops with Art Studio NY:

Woodlawn Library - "Crochet Circles" Easy Fiber Arts Workshop with Ruth Marshall:

 

For the full calendar please see here.

Upcoming programs:

 

paint brushes

Creative Aging - "Artopia" Visual Culture in the Bronx with Ivan Velez

Monday, December 11, 2023, 1 - 2:30 PM
Teaching Artist Ivan teaches a 6 sessions of a drawing program series. Read More ›
paint brushes

Discover Your Place in Nature: "Drawing and Painting from Mannahatta" at Roosevelt Island Library

Monday, December 11, 2023, 5 - 7 PM
Join us for Creative Aging at Roosevelt Island Library: Teaching Artist Peggy Roalf teaches a 6 sessions of a drawing and painting program. Read More ›

It's all about Crochet with Teaching Artist Sandra Ramirez at Throg's Neck Library

Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 11 AM - 1 PM
Teaching artist Sandra Ramirez comes to Throg's Neck Library to teach It's All About Crochet.Read More ›
paint brushes

Care Through Stories: Playback Theatre and Storytelling at Tottenville Library

Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 11 AM - 12:30 PM
Join us for Creative Aging Care Through Stories Workshop at Tottenville Library: Teaching Artists Yibin Wang and Kenneth facilitate a creative interpersonal storytelling program, drawing on theater exercises and arts activities.Read More ›
paint brushes

Creative Aging Drawing Class: the Bronx Fantastic at Allerton Library

Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 2 - 3:30 PM
Teaching Artist Ivan teaches a 6 sessions of a drawing program series for older adults!Read More ›

Release Your Creativity Series: Paint Your Heart Out! with The Art Studio NY at Parkchester Library

Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 10 - 11:30 AM
The Art Studio NY comes to Parkchester Library to teach patrons important techniques to create meaningful, personalized artwork.Read More ›
illustration of a pencil

Memoir Writing at 58th Street Library

Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 11 AM - 12:30 PM
Teaching Artist Frank Ingrasciotta teaches an eight session class on Memoir Writing.Read More ›

Release Your Creativity Series: Collage Your Heart Out! with The Art Studio NY at Westchester Square Library

Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 12 - 1:30 PM
The Art Studio NY comes to Westchester Square Library to teach patrons important techniques to create meaningful, personalized artwork.Read More ›

Crochet Circles with Bronx Artist Ruth Marshall at Woodlawn Heights Library

Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 2 - 3:30 PM
Bronx artist Ruth Marshall comes to Woodlawn Heights Library to teach how to begin, construct and utilize crochet circles.Read More ›

Storytelling & Somatics: Watercolor and Dance Workshop with Leah Yassky (Urban Stages)

Thursday, December 14, 2023, 9:30 - 11 AM
Artist Leah Yassky (Urban Stages) comes to Harry Belafonte 115th Street Library to teach watercolor and dance.Read More ›

Self Portrait Painting with Brooklyn-Based Artist Whit Harris at Morningside Heights Library

Thursday, December 14, 2023, 11 AM - 12:30 PM
Brooklyn-Based Artist Whit Harris comes to Morningside Heights Library to teach Self Portrait Painting.Read More ›
image of a print roller and a print of a monstera plant leaf

Print + Process: Printmaking Workshop at Jefferson Market Library

Thursday, December 14, 2023, 11 AM - 12 PM
Canceled
Teaching Artist Fan Kong teaches a six session class on printmaking. Participants will create a handmade book as a culminating project.Read More ›

It's all about Crochet with Teaching Artist Sandra Ramirez at Throg's Neck Library

Friday, December 15, 2023, 11 AM - 1 PM
Teaching artist Sandra Ramirez comes to Throg's Neck Library to teach It's All About Crochet.Read More ›

Crochet Circles with Bronx Artist Ruth Marshall at Morris Park Library

Friday, December 15, 2023, 2 - 4 PM
Postponed
Bronx artist Ruth Marshall comes to Morris Park Library to teach how to begin, construct and utilize crochet circles.Read More ›
comic art logo Visual Narratives Class Logo

Creative Aging: Visual Narrative For Older Adults at Macomb's Bridge Library

Saturday, December 16, 2023, 10 - 11:15 AM
Teaching Artist Medar teaches a 6 sessions of a mixed media (drawing, writing, & collage) storytelling series. Read More ›
comic art logo Visual Narratives Class Logo

Creative Aging: Visual Narrative For Older Adults at Grand Concourse Library

Saturday, December 16, 2023, 1 - 2:30 PM
Teaching Artist Medar teaches a 6 sessions of a mixed media (drawing, writing, & collage) storytelling series. Read More ›
paint brushes

Creative Aging - "Artopia" Visual Culture in the Bronx with Ivan Velez

Monday, December 18, 2023, 1 - 2:30 PM
Teaching Artist Ivan teaches a 6 sessions of a drawing program series. Read More ›
paint brushes

Care Through Stories: Playback Theatre and Storytelling at Tottenville Library

Tuesday, December 19, 2023, 11 AM - 12:30 PM
Join us for Creative Aging Care Through Stories Workshop at Tottenville Library: Teaching Artists Yibin Wang and Kenneth facilitate a creative interpersonal storytelling program, drawing on theater exercises and arts activities.Read More ›
paint brushes

Creative Aging Drawing Class: the Bronx Fantastic at Allerton Library

Tuesday, December 19, 2023, 2 - 3:30 PM
Teaching Artist Ivan teaches a 6 sessions of a drawing program series for older adults!Read More ›

Release Your Creativity Series: Paint Your Heart Out! with The Art Studio NY at Parkchester Library

Wednesday, December 20, 2023, 10 - 11:30 AM
The Art Studio NY comes to Parkchester Library to teach patrons important techniques to create meaningful, personalized artwork.Read More ›
illustration of a pencil

Memoir Writing at 58th Street Library

Wednesday, December 20, 2023, 11 AM - 12:30 PM
Teaching Artist Frank Ingrasciotta teaches an eight session class on Memoir Writing.Read More ›

Release Your Creativity Series: Collage Your Heart Out! with The Art Studio NY at Westchester Square Library

Wednesday, December 20, 2023, 12 - 1:30 PM
The Art Studio NY comes to Westchester Square Library to teach patrons important techniques to create meaningful, personalized artwork.Read More ›

Self Portrait Painting with Brooklyn-Based Artist Whit Harris at Morningside Heights Library

Thursday, December 21, 2023, 11 AM - 12:30 PM
Brooklyn-Based Artist Whit Harris comes to Morningside Heights Library to teach Self Portrait Painting.Read More ›
image of a print roller and a print of a monstera plant leaf

Print + Process: Printmaking Workshop at Jefferson Market Library

Thursday, December 21, 2023, 11 AM - 12 PM
Canceled
Teaching Artist Fan Kong teaches a six session class on printmaking. Participants will create a handmade book as a culminating project.Read More ›
paint brushes

Care Through Stories: Playback Theatre and Storytelling at Tottenville Library

Thursday, December 21, 2023, 11 AM - 12:30 PM
Join us for Creative Aging Care Through Stories Workshop at Tottenville Library: Teaching Artists Yibin Wang and Kenneth facilitate a creative interpersonal storytelling program, drawing on theater exercises and arts activities.Read More ›