Spotlight on Grow to Lead with Erin Winsor of the Arts and Aging Network
For Erin Winsor, the arts are all about connection. Whether it's through storytelling, dance, or a musical or theatre performance, she and her team at the Arts and Aging Network are connecting generations, one creative act at a time.
Newly established, the Arts and Aging Network is a charitable organization that strives to enrich the lives of older adults in Newfoundland and Labrador (including those living with dementia) through the transformative power of the arts, with a focus on fostering empowerment and engagement through creative expression. They accomplish this through a suite of programs and performances (which feature skilled local artists), including The Music of Your Life Workshop Series, the Sunshine Singers initiative, and the GrandPals program, which also build meaningful connections between young and old alike while promoting inclusivity and enhancing understanding.
This isn't the first time that Winsor, Executive Director of the Arts and Aging Network, has harnessed the power of the arts to improve lives while reaching across the generations. Her previous initiative, Old School Intergenerational Projects, had mostly the same mission.
Erin Winsor, Executive Director of the Arts and Aging Network.
"A big part of my passion is having people live well as they age, but also while living with dementia. So I really wanted to continue that and kind of grow it into a network, essentially....we're constantly making these community connections," shares Winsor, who is also a musician, actor and certified dementia care provider.
This past summer, Winsor signed on as a mentee in Business & Arts NL's Grow to Lead program to help rebrand her previous organization into the Arts and Aging Network. Launched in 2022, Grow to Lead connects local artists with professionals from the public and private sectors to help nurture strong, confident and proficient arts leaders, while supporting the broader arts ecosystem within the province.
For the past number of months, Winsor has been working with her mentor Susan Sherk to develop organizational governance, build a nine-member board, and strategically plan for growth. (Click here to read a Spotlight on Sherk's work with another Grow to Lead mentee, filmmaker Jessica Brown.) The duo have also had some enlightening conversations along the way.
Gretchen Foley, Sunshine Singer at Pearl House.
"Susan and I just had a conversation (about) what is art? And to me, art is creation. It doesn't have to be singing or painting. It can be coding....Starting something from scratch or from inspiration, and also collaboration and things like that, I think, are really important when it comes to art," Winsor says.
"The whole idea is that the arts are inclusive to everybody. They also don't have a right or wrong answer. If we're offering a program to somebody, we're giving them the autonomy to make choices as well, which I think is really important for young people and for older people," she adds, pointing to the focus of the network's programs on engagement and meaningful interactions, rather than just passive entertainment.
While the pair's participation in Grow to Lead technically wrapped in February, Sherk is continuing to work with Winsor to complete some of the goals they've identified, including helping Winsor and her board with their strategic plan.
"Having Susan's support was huge," Winsor says. "But also, she's become a friend of mine, so I anticipate seeing her a lot more in life."
Tanya Lasby, Sunshine Singer at Westbury.
Aimee Coles is chair of the Arts and Aging Network's board of directors. She's also a certified therapeutic recreation specialist with a background in dance and performance, so joining the board seemed a perfect fit.
"Being able to be on a board that incorporates a whole bunch of areas that I have expertise in was something that was really important to me...I think the most fantastic thing that's still carried through, even after a couple meetings, is that all the people that are around the table all are on the same page in terms of just wanting to support Erin and whatever she does," she says.
"Being able to be a part of that growth and that passion as well is something that you just can't even put into words."
Cathy Jackman with students in the GrandPals program at Juniper Ridge.
Besides practical advice and help, Grow to Lead has offered Winsor fresh perspectives on running a charitable organization, which often involves juggling many different tasks and demands.
"I think the greatest thing that I've learned from this program is that I don't have to take on everything myself, that there are more than enough people that want to help," she says, adding that ultimately, she'd love to see the network's programs implemented in schools and long-term care throughout the province.
"I'm just very grateful to have a team of people supporting me that I feel can uphold that goal that I so, so badly want to accomplish - even if I'm not a part of it someday, that it can just keep going."
Erin Winsor speaks to Grade 5 students in Glovertown about understanding aging and dementia.