Ages of Beauty

Beauty is timeless. “Ages of Beauty” is a project aimed at capturing, preserving, and celebrating the stories of Quebec’s diverse elderly population. We hope to bring beauty into the lives of our elders, and share their unique beauty with the world.

This project is supported through the financial contribution of the Government of Québec and the City of Montréal under the Montréal Cultural Development Agreement.

Our goal

The project uses illustrated portraits and storytelling as tools for expression, allowing participants aged 65+ to share their experiences, values, and perspectives. By presenting diverse stories marked by resilience, humor, creativity, and vulnerability, the project promotes a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of aging as an essential dimension of the human experience.

Our project

Focusing on seniors living alone or in retirement homes, our program consists of three main components: group creative activities, one-on-one conversations, and a rendering of the participants’ unique stories through text and portraiture. 

Our team will lead gentle and accessible creative activities for individuals living in senior homes—sketching, sculpting, storytelling, collage and crafts—to create a relaxed environment that fosters communication and self-expression.

We will also conduct one-on-one conversations with consenting participants across several meetings, with the aim of forging real connection and understanding. Our hope is to discover the unique facets of each individual’s experience, story, and identity.

Finally, with participants’ consent, we will refine and edit their stories into short biographical narratives—kind of like a mini memoir. A portrait artist will create an interpretive rendering of the participants, bringing their story to life.

Ultimately, the stories and portraits will be published as a book, to be shared with friends, family, and local organizations. That way, we can share and appreciate the beauty of every individual, fostering intergenerational empathy and supporting the values of visibility, inclusion, and shared cultural memory.

Our story

This project is inspired by the work of local artist Denise Marchand, who meets regularly with residents of senior homes across Montreal and creates portraits that reflect the deeper stories that lie beyond a likeness. We are especially inspired by Marchand’s ability to both foster and express real human connection through art.

Want to get involved?

The Creative Arts Foundation of Canada is currently seeking participants for this project! If you or someone you know is over the age of 65 and living alone or in a retirement home (based in Montreal), and would like the opportunity to share your story, please contact us at info@cafccanada.org.

We are also seeking volunteers. If you would like to participate in any way, or are interested in providing financial or other forms of support, feel free to contact us at info@cafccanada.org.