Cottleville’s Arts and Learning Opportunities for Seniors
The arts and learning go hand in hand: they both stimulate our brains and enrich our lives, especially as the years go by. Cottleville’s arts and learning opportunities offer older adults a wide array of experiences to savor and share with family and friends.
Whether it’s a concert, painting, or a class about American history, Cottleville is an ideal spot to retire for any senior looking to learn, create, and sharpen their brain.
Why lifelong learning is so important
According to a Harvard Health Publishing article entitled, “Back to School: Learning a New Skill Can Slow Cognitive Aging”, new brain cell growth can happen late into adulthood. Even just focusing on one class can keep mental activity thriving. And while working on a crossword puzzle or watching a brain video can improve working memory, being involved in a class offers more long-term benefits, such as reasoning and problem solving.
Learning can help build new neurons in your brain, which benefits thinking, language, memory, reasoning and attention. Being in a class also boosts self-confidence and is a great way to socialize with others in meaningful ways.
At the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Washington University in St. Louis, members can take courses, join special interests groups, and attend events and lectures. There is a small annual fee, but many programs are offered free to members. Workshops are available on a variety of topics, such as poetry writing, and the ancient art of storytelling. There are lectures on current social issues, birdwatching, and the Hebrew Bible. Special interest groups on American politics, reading publications like The New Yorker and The Wall Street Journal and more.
Stimulating, social and affordable: OLLI is an excellent avenue for lifelong learning.
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Cottleville’s arts take center stage
Life would be pretty dull without the arts, and that includes during retirement. Luckily, seniors who choose Cottleville as their retirement location do not have to go far to find outstanding choices:
- Whether you want to be a spectator of live theater or get involved yourself, the Performing Arts Department at St. Charles Community College (SCC) has a place for you. SCC’s Shook Theatre Building is home to theatre and music classes, as well as numerous performances and concerts throughout the year in a 400-seat theatre. The building also includes multiple studios, scene shops and private lesson rooms. In addition to plays, musical performances range from jazz to chamber choirs to orchestras.
- Also located within the St. Charles Community Fine Arts Building, the art gallery allows visitors to experience the work of professional artists from the greater St. Louis region, creations from SCC art faculty and students, and developing artists from the community.
- Another option is the J. Scheidegger Center for Fine Arts, located at Lindenwood University, which presents high-quality, professional entertainment in an intimate setting, boasting a 1,174-seat theater with a Broadway-style stage, a 200-seat black box theater, and a large art gallery. For 15 years, the Scheidegger Center has provided cultural enrichment to Cottleville’s arts with national theater tours, classical and popular music concerts, world-renowned dance, comedy, and celebrity entertainers, as well as hosting student productions by the theatre, dance, and music programs at Lindenwood University.
Avalon Park puts it all together for you
As a resident of Avalon Park, you have a front row seat to all of Cottleville’s arts and lifelong learning options—but you also are surrounded by countless opportunities to nurture your creative spirit right where you are.
Our exceptional independent living community offers dynamic lifelong learning through lectures, discussion groups, book clubs, outings to historical and cultural sites of interest, and more. Budding artists thrive in our arts and crafts classes and have the opportunity to pursue new hobbies and talents. Free from all worries of home maintenance or daily chores, you are free to pick up a paintbrush, or ponder a possible bestseller. It’s all up to you!
There are many more reasons to consider Avalon Park. Wonderful friends, beautiful residences, delicious dining, an active and independent lifestyle, with the reassurance of on-site supportive health services if needed. Cottleville’s arts and learning opportunities are just the beginning. Come see all the other ways we help you live well, and live better.
Leave behind the worries and boredom of living alone. Contact us today to set up your personalized tour. Learn how a move to senior living can give you the lifestyle you deserve – download our guide, Choosing the Right Community.
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