Unique Partnership Puts Senior Living Residents’ Art on Display

Partnerships between senior living communities and colleges and programs can be powerful, offering numerous benefits to residents that wouldn’t otherwise be available. It’s something that Reuben Rosenfeld, executive director of North Oaks, a Pikesville, Maryland continuing care retirement community, understands well.

Reuben Rosenfeld, executive director of North Oaks

“Our team is always looking for new and creative ways to provide enrichment opportunities for our residents,” he says. North Oaks’ partnership with the Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute has been tremendously successful, leading to a musician-in-residence at the community for the past three years. Rosenfeld credits the success of the program as inspiring the North Oaks team to reach out to the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). “We saw the value in connecting our community with prestigious local institutions and wanted to expand that model into the visual arts,” he says. Once again, the partnership proved to be innovative and valuable.

The North Oaks and MICA Partnership

The partnership between North Oaks and MICA began with weekly art classes for residents. Lorena Garcia, a graduate student from MICA, led the classes during the spring 2025 semester, providing residents with a creative outlet.

A majority of the residents who participated in the program had no background in the arts. “In fact, many residents who joined the class initially felt they were not artistic at all,” says Rosenfeld. “This program became a powerful journey for them, as it showed them that with the right guidance, creativity can be unlocked at any age. It was a beautiful lesson in overcoming self-doubt and discovering a new passion.”

The classes were designed to be dynamic. Each weekly class had a different artistic focus, allowing residents to explore a wide range of media and techniques. Residents had the opportunity to work with watercolor and acrylic painting, jewelry design, sculpture, and collage. “This variety allowed residents to not only revisit old passions but also discover new creative talents they never knew they had,” Rosenfeld explains.

The program culminated with an art show of residents’ work at North Oaks, followed by an exhibit at MICA.

How the Program Succeeded

Rosenfeld describes residents’ reactions to the program as being “overwhelmingly positive,” and notes that the feedback received has been “truly heartwarming.” Many residents have said they’ve enjoyed discovering new creative outlets or returning to passions they haven’t had time for.

“The classes became a central part of their week, not just for the art but for the social connection,” Rosenfeld says. “We also heard from many residents about the immense sense of pride and accomplishment they felt, especially when their work was featured in the MICA exhibit. The entire program has been a powerful testament to the value of lifelong learning and creativity.”

Residents had the opportunity to have their artwork on display at the MICA campus. The grand opening of the art show was a vibrant, well-attended event, with many residents’ families joining them for the show. Two local television shows aired stories about the show, and the art remained on display at MICA for two weeks.

“The partnership provided our residents with a new avenue for creativity and social connection,” says Rosenfeld. The weekly classes gave residents a chance to learn, develop new skills, and build a sense of community. “The chance to then have their work displayed at a prestigious institution like MICA brought an immense amount of pride and validation to our residents, which was truly inspiring to see,” he says.

The program was such a success that North Oaks is exploring new ways to expand the partnership with MICA. A few potential initiatives include having a permanent artist-in-residence live at North Oaks, as well as the establishment of a weekly art class on MICA’s campus for North Oaks residents.

Advice for Communities Establishing Their Own Programs

Rosenfeld encourages communities looking to establish their own programs and partnerships to start by looking for resources available within their greater community. “For instance, here at North Oaks, our philosophy of community engagement has led to successful partnerships not just with MICA, but also with institutions like the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins,” he explains.

He recommends that communities begin by reaching out to local colleges, universities, and arts organizations. “These partnerships offer a valuable opportunity for both sides—our residents receive high-quality instruction, and the students gain real-world teaching experience and the chance to connect with a different generation,” Rosenfeld says. “It’s a win-win that can bring a new level of enrichment to any community.”

Paige Cerulli

Paige Cerulli is a contributing writer to i Advance Senior Care.