Special Projects

Arts on Prescription (AoP)

Creative Aging Network–NC (CAN-NC) has been advancing the role of creative engagement in health, well-being, and social connection for years.  In 2025, we highlighted Arts on Prescription at its annual Creative Aging Symposium in Charlotte, NC. Our work with community partners was also featured on ncIMPACT PBS in The Surprising Cure for America’s Loneliness Crisis. Building on this experience, we are working to expand Arts on Prescription in the Piedmont Triad and, ultimately, across North Carolina, for adults and older adults. Our goal is to strengthen connections among healthcare providers, mental health professionals, arts organizations, and community partners so that creative experiences become a more accessible part of holistic, person-centered care.

Interested in collaborating? Healthcare providers, clinicians, arts organizations, and others interested in creative aging or Arts on Prescription are invited to complete our interest form. We’re building connections and gathering information to help develop a future directory highlighting relevant programs, services, and opportunities across our state.

Join our monthly Arts on Prescription discussion!

Connect with others interested in advancing this work. Meetings are held virtually on the second Friday of each month at 1:30 p.m.

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88077432249?pwd=FK7QhbeoHyFWtP3LytgCFjn8chZjoh.1 

Interactive Sculpture Garden

The Interactive Sculpture Garden—the visionary idea of CAN-NC Co-Founder and Executive Director Lia Miller—is a groundbreaking pilot project developed in partnership with UNC Greensboro (UNCG) to promote physical activity among older adults and support aging in place through functional, kinetic sculptures that enhance balance, flexibility, and strength. Learn about the research at Staying Power: UNCG Initiative for Public Art and Aging | Gerontology Program.

Support this project: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/interactive-sculpture-garden-campaign 

Key Features:

• Art + Wellness Integration: Combines art, movement, and nature to improve health, foster creativity, and challenge stereotypes about aging.
• Collaborative Innovation: Engages UNCG students and faculty from departments such as art, kinesiology, gerontology, and engineering, working with community stakeholders to design sculptures that unite science, aesthetics, and functionality.
• Anti-Ageism Messaging: Educational signage near each sculpture will raise awareness of the harms of ageism while celebrating positive, empowering images of aging.
• Accessible & Inclusive: Will offer a free, beautiful, and stimulating alternative to gyms—especially for marginalized elders—encouraging intergenerational and intercultural connections.
• Evolving Landmark: Located on CAN-NC’s 10-acre campus adjacent to Greensboro’s future Greenway, the Garden will grow annually through new UNCG collaborations, drawing visitors who return for its ever-changing blend of art, fitness, and community engagement.

LilyList

LilyList, the innovative online platform for capturing and sharing legacies, has developed a strategic partnership with the Creative Aging Network-NC (CAN-NC). LilyList enables users to create beautiful legacy pages with reflections, recipes, favorite songs, and heartfelt dedications. Its proprietary, AI-enhanced video tool generates custom “video trailers,” offering a dynamic snapshot of each journey.

“We are honored to provide our platform as a tool to help CAN-NC participants capture and share their invaluable life lessons and legacies for generations to come,” said Curt Meinhold, Founder of LilyList. By enabling users to easily add audio, recipes, playlists, reflections, and more, LilyList serves as the bridge between remembrance and true connection, ensuring that multifaceted legacies are not lost. 

This collaboration offers our participants a new medium for creative expression and intergenerational connection. “Empowering older adults through creative expression has always been a core part of our mission,” said Lia Miller, Co-Founder and Executive Director of CAN-NC. “This partnership is a natural and exciting extension of the creative work they already do with us, ensuring their unique stories are celebrated for years to come.” 

Learn more at lilylist.com.

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