Maryland Arts Summit
 June 16-17, 2026
Prince Georges Community College Center for the Performing Arts
301 Largo Road
Largo, Maryland.

Registration ends June 9th..visit mdarts.org/summit

I will be participating in Maryland Citizens for the Arts (MCA)   Maryland Arts Summit 
and co-presenting with  Aimee Olivo, Executive Director of Art Works Now on the topic "Creative Aging in Action: Strategies for Engaging Older Adults Through the Arts." 

This interactive workshop introduces arts organizations to the concept and value of creative aging programming and provides research-based insights into its benefits through the experience of Artworks Now.  My portion of this presentation will be from the point of view of a Teacher Artist, which I have served in this capacity with AWN for three years. 

Art Works Now (AWN) is a Hyattsville, Maryland based, 501 C3 non-profit organization learned through Lifetime Arts, Inc.  and National Guild for Community Arts Education learned best practices for serving students who are 55 years of age and better. Based on this learning, they developed the Creative Aging Program (CAP), a free weekly sequential arts program designed to serve older adults (55+) seeking arts learning that connects them to a creative network of peers, while also supporting their physical, mental, and emotional wellness. 

The Maryland Arts Summit is a statewide conference presented by and for the Maryland arts sector, which includes, but is not limited to: Arts Advocates, Arts Educators & Teaching Artists, Independent Artists, Arts Organizations, Youth, Community Stakeholders, Arts, and Entertainment Districts, County Arts Agencies of Maryland, Public Artists, Boards of Directors, and Folklife Artists.

It is great opportunity to network, share the fantastic work that is being done across the state of Maryland, learn about communities different from your own, celebrate the accomplishments of what we as a sector have achieved, and more.

To close out the celebration of #CreativeSparksTurns2 and in honor of Older Americans Month, I’m excited to invite you to a special live conversation featuring abstract artist Alma Roberts.


This inspiring discussion will explore what it means to begin — or return to — a creative life later in life and how creativity can become a powerful tool for wellness, self-expression, and joyful aging.


Many people believe creativity belongs only to the young or professionally trained, but Alma’s journey reminds us that it’s never too late to explore your artistic voice, embrace curiosity, and create something meaningful.


During our conversation, we’ll discuss:

• Starting a creative practice later in life
• Overcoming fear, perfectionism, and self-doubt
• The emotional and mental wellness benefits of creativity
• Why creativity matters as we age

And more!
This conversation also connects beautifully with this year’s Older Americans Month theme, Champion Your Health, highlighting how creative engagement supports emotional well-being, purpose, connection, and healthy aging.


Whether you already consider yourself creative or you’re simply curious about reigniting a spark within yourself, this event is for you.


 Sunday, May 31, 2026
 3:00 pm, ET
 Streaming Live on Spark Your Creative's Facebook & YouTube


About Alma Roberts

Alma Roberts is a Baltimore-based, second generation abstract expressionist artist. At the age of 62, she literally picked up a paint brush and began producing what has been described as “fully formed, energetic abstract compositions” that belied the fact that she was at the time, new to the medium. Her works provide an insight into her viewpoints on life and the issues and forces that impact it.


Roberts has had numerous exhibits over the course of the ten years she has been painting. In 2017, she had a successful solo exhibition at the City Hall Gallery in her beloved hometown of Baltimore. She also has one of her compositions in the permanent collection of the James E. Lewis Museum at her undergraduate Alma Mater, Morgan State University (Baltimore). 


Roberts is a founding member of the Joshua Johnson Council at the Baltimore Museum of Art. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History and Culture, and is also a Commissioner on the Baltimore Public Art Commission that oversees and approves the installation and maintenance public art throughout the city.  Learn more about Alma and her incredible work here.


I hope you’ll join us for this meaningful celebration of creativity, courage, reinvention, and the power of beginning again.

During May 2026,  Spark Your Creative will  be hosting a special celebration in honor of the 2-year anniversary of  the book Creative Sparks: 21 Affirmations and Inspiration for Creativity at Midlife—and in recognition of Older Americans Month.

This feels like a meaningful moment to pause and reflect on what creativity looks like as we grow, evolve, and move through different seasons of life.

Because creativity at midlife and beyond isn’t just about making things.
It’s about:
Reclaiming your voice
Honoring your experiences
And giving yourself permission to express what’s still unfolding

Over the month of May, there will be:

• Book Special:  Get a signed copy of Creative Sparks and some swag for only $15 here.
• Some readings of key passages from the book and journal prompts.
• Information about the powerful health benefits of creative aging.
• Live interview with visual Artist, Alma Roberts in Celebration of Older Americans Month!

Check out the schedule above and follow the Spark Your Creative on Instagram at (https://www.instagram.com/sparkyourcreative/) or on the Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/SparkYourCreative/)  for more information and to participate!

In times of uncertainty, stress, or transition, creativity can often feel out of reach—yet it is one of the most powerful tools we have for grounding, healing, and renewal. Reignite Your Creative Spark is a one-hour virtual workshop designed to help you reconnect with your creative voice, even in the midst of life’s challenges.

Through guided reflection, accessible creative tips and exercises, participants will explore how to move through blocks, quiet self-doubt, and rediscover the joy of creating without pressure or perfection. This workshop centers creativity as both a personal refuge and a pathway to resilience.

Participants will:

• Identify common emotional and mental barriers to creativity during difficult times
• Engage in a short grounding or mindfulness exercise to reset and refocus
• Explore simple and creative practices to spark inspiration
• Reframe  creativity as a tool for self-care, expression, and empowerment
• Leave with a personalized intention and practical strategies to sustain their creative practice.

This session is ideal for artists, writers, and the creative curious seeking to reconnect with their creativity—especially those navigating life transitions, burnout, or uncertainty. No prior creative experience is required—just a willingness to show up and begin again.

Sunday, March 29, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The Catonsville Clubhouse, 10 St. Timonthys Lane, Catonsville, MD
Facilitated by Sharon J. Burton of Spark Your Creative Coaching

Color, Cut, Create is a in-person, two-hour, hands-on creative experience designed to help you reconnect with your intuition through the playful and reflective practice of intuitive collage journaling.

Using simple materials magazines, scissors, glue, and your journal you’ll explore the power of allowing intuition to guide your creative choices rather than striving for planning or perfection. Through guided prompts, mindfulness techniques, and reflective journaling, you’ll uncover the hidden stories, emotions, and insights that emerge naturally through your collage pages.

No prior art experience is necessary just an open heart and a willingness to explore.

By the end of the session, you will leave with:

-A series of expressive collage journal pages created intuitively
-Practical tools to incorporate intuitive collage into your ongoing self-care or creative practice
-Renewed clarity, inspiration, and a deeper connection to your creative self

Come ready to color, cut, and create your way into a space of joy, reflection, and creative renewal.

The workshop in presented as a part of Tribe 55+ Women's Art Collective's  residency and exhibition with The Baltimore County Arts Guild and is funded by a generous grant from the Catonsville Women's Giving Circle.
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