Ageism has been called the last acceptable form of prejudice.

Stats Canada estimates by 2025 people 65+ will make up 25% of the population. According to a recent Cambridge University study, characters 65+ only represent 6.6% in media and the performing arts.

It is no secret that older artists face professional challenges. While it is true age-related physical and cognitive changes are a part of normal ageing, they are experienced in different ways and to varying degrees by older adults. The far greater impediments to older artists’ successful participation in the arts are the social stigmas of ageism and ableism. Our industry leaves has much room to develop and improve its processes and structures for access and inclusion.

At a time of heightened tensions between generations, Dr. Julia Henderson and I formed The Creatus Project Collective (www.creatus.ca) to address these issues. Over the last year through a series of public forums and intergenerational creative labs, we examined the barriers and some potential creative solutions.