The best senior communities that offer the arts

Retirement communities offer more options than ever, including niche living spaces that reflect your personality and interests, not just your age. 

Arts-focused communities are one specialty option in senior living. Both independent living and assisted living communities offer opportunities for residents who want to immerse themselves in the fine arts. 

If you’re looking for a retirement community with a community of painters, musicians, writers, and more we’ve put together a list for you: 

1. Burbank Senior Artists Colony  

Located in Burbank, California, this independent living community features a performance theater, art studios, and a choir made up of colony members. 

Lifelong learning programs at the Burbank Senior Artists Colony cover topics such as: 

• Poetry in Motion 

• Writing 

• Anti-aging 

• Computers 

2. NOHO Senior Arts Colony  

This independent living community for people ages 62 and older is located in North Hollywood. The Road Theatre Company makes its home in the stadium-style, 78-seat performing arts theater at the NOHO community. 

Residents can take advantage of complimentary on-site arts, health, wellness, and interactive community programming provided by EngAGE. 

The community embraces many forms of art, offering yoga classes, writing seminars, a visual arts studio, and a digital arts room. 

3. Long Beach Senior Arts Colony Apartments 

A short walk from the East Village Arts District in Long Beach, California, the Long Beach Senior Arts Colony Apartments is a community for adults ages 55 and older that embraces creativity. 

The community encourages residents to stay active through a range of arts and fitness classes, including dance lessons in its dance studio. It also offers an art studio and an outdoor resident gardening area for those who prefer the art of nature. 

An on-site art gallery gives residents a place to display their creative work. 

4. The Mayflower at Winter Park  

This continuing care retirement resort in Winter Park, Florida, hosts an annual juried art show for artists ages 55 and older. The “Art for Generations” exhibit is free and open to the public, featuring creative works by older adults and local residents. 

Residents at The Mayflower are encouraged to enjoy and support the local arts through outings to the symphony, ballet, theater, and opera in the Orlando area. 

The community also has an award-winning partnership with a local college that provides resident classes in subjects such as: 

• Art 

• Theater 

• Writing 

• History 

• Environmental sciences 

5. Taos Retirement Village  

This independent living community for adults ages 55 and older describes itself as an “eclectic community of artists, educators, authors, craftsmen and women, poets, musicians, business people and renegades.” 

Located in Taos, New Mexico, the community sits next to the Taos Public Library and Town Hall, with dining and shopping nearby. Local theaters and opera houses are also close by. 

The Taos Bistro and Center for the Arts provide places where residents can develop a skill or begin a new hobby. Featured activities include theater, art, music, dance, and yoga. 

6. The Fountains at La Cholla 

In March 2015, this independent living community announced a partnership with the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA) to offer a wide range of courses to its more than 400 residents. 

SAACA was also set to moderate a rotating exhibit in the community’s art gallery, providing residents with changing displays of visual art. The initiative was part of La Cholla's commitment to engaging the interests of its residents in Tucson, Arizona. 

The Fountains at La Cholla is part of the Watermark group of retirement communities. 

Embrace your artistic side 

Assisted living offers a lot of benefits for those who want support and enhanced independence. Whether you’ve always been an artist, want to try a new creative hobby, or simply hope to be surrounded by the arts in retirement, one of these communities may be right for you.