As the U.S. population ages, it faces more age-related diseases. How can the arts serve to treat, prevent, or improve these conditions? Representatives from the National Institutes of Health , the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the University of California will discuss current investigations on the arts and aging, including new resources for researchers and arts practitioners. The NEA also debuts a new publication on arts and aging research based on a convening at the National Academy of Sciences last fall.

The latest public webinar is hosted by the NEA Interagency Task Force on the Arts and Human Development, an alliance of 14 federal agencies and departments that encourage more and better research on how the arts help people reach their full potential at all stages of life.

The NEA and the Interagency Task Force periodically host public webinars to share compelling research, practices, and/or funding opportunities for research in the arts and human development. Task Force members include representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, and other agencies and departments. More information on the Task Force can be found at http://www.nea.gov/research/convenings.html 

Guests and speakers:

•Sunil Iyengar, Director of Research & Analysis, NEA, will moderate the webinar
•Marie Bernard, Deputy Director, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health
•Lisbeth Nielsen, Program Director, Division of Behavioral and Social Research, National Institute on Aging
•Marla Bush, Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
•Julene Johnson, Institute for Health and Aging, University of California, San Francisco
How to join the webinar

The webinar takes place on Wednesday, February 20, 2013, 2:00- 3:00 pm, EST. It is free and open to the public. Please register in advance.

Media may RSVP to Sally Gifford, NEA Public Affairs Specialist at 202-682-5606 or [email protected].

You may listen using your computer's speakers or dial-in to 1-877-685-5350 and use participant code: 739587. Attendees will be muted but able to type in questions and comments through a text Q&A box.

Follow the conversation on Twitter @NEAarts with the hashtag #NEAtaskforce.

An archive of the webinar will be available at http://www.arts.gov/research/convenings/

http://www.arts.endow.gov/news/news13/Task-Force-Webinar-Feb-2013.html