arts for the aging

What arts for the aging does

Arts for the Aging, Inc. (AFTA) is a Maryland-incorporated nonprofit organization headquartered in Gaithersburg that engages older adults and caregivers with arts experiences intended to improve physical, cognitive, and emotional health. The organization delivers workshops directly to partner sites including adult care centers, senior centers, continuing care retirement communities, and affordable housing communities, focusing on populations that would not otherwise have access to arts programming. Its portfolio consists of four programs: Teaching Artist Training (equipping professional artists with specialized curriculum and methodology), Quicksilver (workshops for older adults), Special Projects (customized community initiatives), and The Empower Project (training artists, staff, and caregivers in arts-based health approaches).

The underlying technology is human-delivered rather than platform-based: AFTA contracts and equips professional artists with proprietary curriculums and training to facilitate workshops tailored to older adults with diverse abilities and health conditions, including sensory impairments. The organization cites research linking regular arts participation to reduced long-term care needs and improved health outcomes as the conceptual basis for its interventions. There is no software product, app, or digital platform described in the source material.

AFTA operates a donation-based revenue model with no charges to partner organizations for workshop delivery. Funding comes from individuals, corporations, and foundations, with donation calls-to-action featured prominently on its website. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: direct outreach to partner organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region, supplemented by a website, email newsletter, and news/blog content for awareness and donor engagement. The organization has 1-10 employees and serves a distributed base of community partners rather than a concentrated commercial customer set.

Name

arts for the aging

Legal name

Arts for the Aging, Inc.

Website

https://aftaarts.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arts for the Aging is a Maryland-based nonprofit that delivers arts workshops and teaching-artist training to older adults and caregivers through adult care, senior, and affordable housing communities in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior Arts and Wellness Programs

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Creative Learning for Seniors (Music, writing, crafts) (EDAAAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

Keywords

• Arts therapy programs
• Senior wellness services
• Creative aging initiatives
• Older adult engagement
• Community arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Gaithersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a not-for-profit organization, Arts for the Aging is funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The website prominently features a 'Donate' CTA.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Arts for the Aging is a not-for-profit organization that delivers arts-based workshops and training programs to older adults and caregivers through partnerships with adult care centers, senior centers, continuing care communities, and affordable housing communities. The organization contracts and equips professional artists with specialized curriculums to spark creative self-expression and social connection aimed at improving physical, cognitive, and emotional health. Programs are funded through donations and provided at no cost to partner organizations and participants.

Product overview

Arts for the Aging operates as a not-for-profit organization offering a portfolio of arts programs and training services designed to improve physical, cognitive, and emotional health in older adults. The core offerings include four distinct programs: Teaching Artist Training (which equips professional artists with curriculums and skills for workshop delivery), Quicksilver (arts workshops for seniors), Special Projects (customized community initiatives), and The Empower Project (training for staff and caregivers in arts-based community health approaches). These programs are delivered through partnerships with adult care centers, senior centers, continuing care communities, and affordable housing communities to increase socialization and prevent loneliness in aging populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Quicksilver: A program offering creative engagement activities.
• The Empower Project
• Teaching Artist Training

Products and services

• Teaching Artist Training Training program that equips professional artists with specialized curriculums, methodologies, and skills to deliver arts experiences tailored for older adults and caregivers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research shows arts participation can reduce long-term care needs

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Encore Creativity for Older Adults: Encore is the largest nonprofit provider of arts programs for older adults in the U.S., offering choral, music, and arts learning opportunities nationwide. It is a direct peer operating at greater scale in the same arts-for-seniors space.
• Elders Share the Arts: ESTA is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that engages older adults in creating and performing original theater and storytelling. It shares AFTA's mission of using participatory arts to address isolation and support healthy aging in underserved senior communities.
• Stagebridge: Stagebridge is Oakland's oldest performing arts company for older adults, offering classes, performances, and intergenerational programming. It is directly comparable to AFTA as a nonprofit delivering arts instruction and performances to seniors.
• EngAGE: EngAGE provides arts, wellness, and lifelong learning programs in senior housing communities nationwide. Like AFTA, it focuses on bringing creative programming to older adults in affordable and care-based housing settings.
• Lifetime Arts: Lifetime Arts is a New York-based nonprofit that trains artists and organizations to deliver creative aging programs for older adults. It is the closest direct peer to AFTA, sharing the same train-the-trainer model and focus on professional artists working with seniors.

Broad incumbents

• National Center for Creative Aging: NCCA is a national nonprofit advancing the field of creative aging through research, training, and convening. It serves as a broader umbrella and advocacy organization for the field in which AFTA operates.
• AARP Foundation: AARP Foundation is the charitable arm of AARP focused on helping older adults facing insecurity. While much larger, it is comparable as a major funder and service provider in the aging support space where AFTA operates.
• National Council on Aging: NCOA is a national advocacy and service organization addressing the needs of older Americans across multiple dimensions including health, economic security, and enrichment. It is a broader incumbent operating in the aging services space adjacent to AFTA's arts-focused niche.

Others

• National Guild for Community Arts Education: The National Guild supports community-based arts education organizations nationwide through advocacy, professional development, and resources. AFTA is a peer member of the broader community arts education ecosystem the Guild represents.

Emerging players

• New Horizons International Music Association: New Horizons provides accessible music education programs specifically for adults over 50, including beginners. It intersects with AFTA's arts-for-seniors mission through music-focused programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arts-for-the-aging

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about arts for the aging