Arts Horizons and Bright Side Manor

Artistic inspiration has been flowing freely at Bright Side Manor these past few months, thanks to a new partnership that brought a series of visual arts and musical programs to our residents.

Arts Horizons was provided with a grant from The Henry & Marilyn Taub Foundation to bring to Bright Side its “Creative Spirits for Seniors Program,” which features a series of visual arts and musical workshops.

The project began in January with four weekly visual arts workshops led by artist Michele Baldwin, who engaged residents in working with different art mediums each week, resulting in colorful clay sculptures and other multi-media creations.

The next month brought musician William Ruiz for four weekly sessions of drumming and percussion music that electrified staff and residents alike.

The program will culminate with a closing ceremony at 1 pm on May 1, featuring the residents’ artwork and a musical interlude with Ruiz.

Arts Horizon is a 45-year-old nonprofit with locations in Englewood and New York City that, according to its website, “is committed to making the performing, visual, literary, media arts and artistic expression equitable and accessible to diverse people of all ages and abilities.”

The program that Arts Horizon designed for Bright Side Manor featured a variety of visual arts mediums so that even those residents with cognitive impairments could participate and benefit. The drum circles and other musical interludes were also designed to stimulate the senses and get residents to engage with the rhythm, the timing and the energy.

“Our intergenerational collaboration with Arts Horizons has been seamless and feels like a natural fit for our Brightside Manor residents,” said Elizabeth Davis, Executive Director of The Bright Side Family. “The Arts Horizons program brings quality art workshops to our residents and includes a variety of mediums so that even those residents with cognitive impairments can participate and benefit.”

Although Bright Side Manor has a full-time Director of Activities, our nonprofit relies heavily on volunteer and community support to expand programming offerings and ensure that it supports the varied interests, needs and abilities of our 65 residents, Davis added.

“We are always looking for new ways to expose Bright Side Manor residents to a variety of artistic and cultural experiences,” said Karen Roth, Director of Activities. “The arts truly uplift, inspire, and foster connection.”

In December, a group of Bright Side Manor residents took a special field trip to the Frick Collection in Manhattan.

If you or your organization would like to partner with us in bringing art experiences to our Bright Side Manor residents, please email us at info@brightsidemanor.org