Town Hall has a layered and dynamic mission, and strives to reach a variety of communities through our education outreach programs.
Town Hall curates programming in arts disciplines such as visual art, theatre, and storytelling at three different senior centers; two of which are located in Brooklyn, and the other center is just a few doors down from Town Hall itself in Manhattan.
Woodstock Senior Center
Town Hall has had a strong and impactful partnership with Woodstock Senior Center for the past three years, and is continuing to grow its programming there as more members are participating. Part of the ProjectFIND Network, Woodstock Senior Center offers a place for local seniors to gather and participate in social activities. Town Hall’s residency at Woodstock takes place in the spring on Saturdays and is led by a Town Hall Teaching Consultant who facilitates weekly sessions involving theatre games, storytelling, script-writing, and even a bit of singing. The culminating event involves bringing everyone together at the center to view the recorded video the seniors create at the Manhattan Neighborhood Network studio.
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2019 Program Video:
“I count my lucky stars that I was invited to be the Teaching Artist for the Woodstock project as it has given me immeasurable joy to help cultivate a community that is creative, compassionate, curious and diverse. I feel that this group of seniors has taught me more than I ever do them! Watching them come from disparate backgrounds to a point where they share openly and bravely with one another and become a true ensemble is a privilege.”
This program is supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
The program is also made possible by the generous funding from Project FIND and the Manhattan Borough President's Office Manhattan Community Award Program through the Department of Aging.
SU-CASA Programs:
Boro Park Y and Council Center for Senior Citizens
My Voice: A Storytelling and Visual Art Making Series
In March of 2019, Town Hall launched My Voice: A Storytelling and Visual Art Making Series at two senior centers: Boro Park Y and Council Center for Senior Citizens. This program features an interdisciplinary approach to providing a creative learning and performance opportunity for senior citizens. The Teaching Consultants leading the program provide lessons in both visual art and theatre, and foster a space for the seniors to explore their individual identities while cultivating new relationships with one another through their artistic expression and group work. At the conclusion of these programs, the seniors share their work with their communities through visual art displays and theatrical performances.
“To have the Town Hall program here, it means a lot. These are programs that we would not be able to afford otherwise. It gave our seniors an outlet, an opportunity that we don’t always provide them.”
2019 Video: Council Center for Senior Citizens
“This was the first time I had performed at all since I had a stroke. The opportunity to perform, to be able to show myself, to not be ashamed of what’s become of me—it’s wonderful.”
This project is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council