Creative Aging at Pérez Art Museum Miami is a free arts education program designed for adults ages 55 and older. Since 2023, the program has brought together older adults to learn new skills, connect with professional artists, and build community through creative practice.
Over the years, Creative Aging has offered workshops in ceramics, book arts, textiles, sculpture, photography, and more. To date, more than 257 participants have taken part in over 18 immersive 6-week and intensive 3-day workshops.
Our mission is to foster creativity, lifelong learning, and connection among older adults by providing high-quality, accessible arts programming led by local teaching artists.
Now Open for Application
Winter 2026 Vitality Arts Workshop Series
February 9–March 4, 2026
Medium: Textiles (quilting and textile design using repurposed materials)
Designed for adults 55 and better seeking a community-based creative outlet, the Vitality Arts Workshop Series offers participants the opportunity to connect with local Miami teaching artists, engage deeply with a single art medium, and draw inspiration from the collection at Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM).
Participants can expect:
- Engaging studio art sessions over four to six weeks
- Art tours led by professional teaching artists
- A culminating public event celebrating participants’ final projects
This winter workshop focuses on textiles, with an emphasis on quilting and textile design using repurposed materials. The course is led by Bex McCharen, with assistant Marie Franco and gallery guide Thom Wheeler Castillo.
Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays, 2–5pm
Session dates: February 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, March 2 and 4
Culminating event: Thursday, March 12, 2026
Participation Guidelines
To ensure broad access and create opportunities for as many community members as possible, participants may enroll in up to two Creative Aging (Vitality Arts) workshops per calendar year.
Each workshop will be announced with a four- to six-week application period.
Looking Ahead: 2026 Creative Aging Schedule
Applications not yet open
Spring 2026
Vitality Arts Workshop Series with Aramis O’Reilly
March 23–April 15
Medium: Mixed media and painting
Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays, 2–5pm
Culminating event: April 23, 2026
Summer 2026
Vitality Arts Weekend Intensive
June 11–13
Led by Liene Bosque
Medium: Sculpture
Vitality Arts Weekend Intensive
July 9–11
Led by Morel Doucet
Medium: Mixed media and sculpture
Fall 2026
Vitality Arts Workshop Series with Sheherazade Thenard
Aug. 24–Sept. 16
Medium: Painting
Culminating event: Sept. 24, 2026
Vitality Arts Workshop Series with Tom Virgin and Shawna Moulton
Oct. 12–Nov. 4
Medium: Book arts and papermaking
Culminating event: Nov. 12, 2026
Staying Connected
If a future workshop interests you, we encourage you to:
- Save the dates
- Check back as the season approaches
- Follow PAMM Education or subscribe to the PAMM newsletter for application announcements
Teaching Artists
We are proud to have collaborated with a diverse group of Miami-based artists, including:
- Liene Bosquê – mold making and body casting
- Beatriz Chachamovitz – drawing and ceramics inspired by South Florida’s waterways
- Carolina Cueva – ceramics
- Diana Eusebio – textiles and natural dyes
- Nereida Garcia-Ferraz – painting and color theory
- Isabella Marie Garcia – papermaking
- Bex McCharen – textiles and design
- Aramis O’Reilly – painting
- Tom Virgin – book arts and printmaking
These artists bring their unique practices and perspectives, helping participants explore new forms of creative expression while celebrating Miami’s cultural landscape.
FAQ
Participant Testimonials
“The program changed my life completely. It opened possibilities of what I can do after 60. Being creative again made me feel useful and meaningful. I look forward to the years to come. I hope that others can have the experience that I had on this five-week course in art.” – Orlando-P.
“Participating in the Aging Creative Adult Group at the Pérez Art Museum Miami has been a truly transformative experience for me. As someone over 55, it can be difficult to find time—or even allow myself the space—to engage in activities that enrich my well-being. This program has offered not only painting and handmade bookmaking classes, but also something much deeper: a safe and welcoming space to connect with others, express myself, and heal.” – Rocio T.
