Lightning Talk: From Access to Aging: 5 Strategies for Building or Expanding a Creative Aging Program

Tuesday, May 20, 2025, From 1:00 - 1:30 P.M. ET

Using the lessons learned from designing accessible programs for 25 years, Damon McLeese began adapting programs for aging participants, defining and refining strategies at Access Gallery in Denver, CO. This lively presentation and Q&A will draw heavily from the experiences of teaching people with Alzheimer's and dementia, from creating street art to curating a show of contemporary artists in their eighties.

Damon McLeese specializes in unlocking the creative power of people and organizations regardless of their background, bridging the gap between creativity and community in corporate settings, classrooms, and within individual artists. Damon has been the Executive Director of the nonprofit Access Gallery in Denver, CO, since 1998. Damon was the recipient of the 2014 Mayor's Award for Innovation in the Arts and was a speaker at the 2016 TEDx Mile High “Make and Believe” event. In 2017, Damon received the prestigious Governor’s Award for Leadership in the Arts, and in 2019, he was named the Bonfils Stanton Arts and Society Awardee.  Damon’s work forces us to look at ability and creativity differently. His past work includes photography for people who are blind, teaching Street Art to people with Alzheimer's and Dementia, and hiring students with disabilities to create corporate art.

Register here!

Lightning Talks are concise virtual presentations by experts (10 minutes or less) followed by a short live Q&A session. A benefit of Access/VSA Network membership, these webinars are FREE to all current members and $15 for the public. Come see how much you can learn in just a half-hour!

Closed captioning and ASL interpretation are both available for all webinars. For the most accessible viewing experience, we recommend watching the webinar on a desktop computer or laptop screen. For more information or to request other access services, please contact the Office of Accessibility and VSA at (202) 416-8727 (voice) or [email protected].