Renaissance Enterprises is a

nonprofit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

organization whose goal is to increase the quality of life for elderly people in

long term care facilities A nursing home is a facility for the residential care of elderly or disabled people. Nursing homes may also be referred to as skilled nursing facility (SNF) or long-term care facilities. Often, these terms have slightly different meanings to in ...

and senior centers by providing regular interaction with creative arts, artists,

artisans An artisan (from french: artisan, it, artigiano) is a skilled craft worker who makes or creates material objects partly or entirely by hand. These objects may be functional or strictly decorative, for example furniture, decorative art, s ...

, and performers.

Origins

Renaissance Enterprises was founded in 1988 by

Bob Rowe Robert J. "Bob" Rowe (born September 21, 1954 in Battle Creek, Michigan) is an American musical performer and recording artist. He is well known for bringing music to residents of long term care facilities. Rowe founded the nonprofit Renaissance ...

to reach out to elderly members of the community. The organization operates in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee and

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

as well as some neighboring states.

Mission

The goal of Renaissance Enterprises is to provide the highest quality arts and music programs to nursing homes and related care facilities utilizing the services of the highest quality artists, artisans and performers whose vision matches our own, to love and serve the elderly through the arts. What we do: Renaissance Enterprises brings the live arts to residents. They strive to bring comfort, reassurance, respect, and love (and some fun too) for residents of long term care facilities and senior centers. The type of creative arts they provide include music, dance, puppetry, live art*, and others. Why: It is well known that music, and other live arts*, can assist healing and ease suffering. This is confirmed in respected professional publications. It is noted that arts can provide a soothing effect on agitated patients, serve as diversion from sadness or anger, can positively effect moods, and touch multi levels of consciousness. Renaissance produced a booklet for artists to guide them in performances for these special audiences. Therein they also note that often they experience small wonders where an audience member had been silent for months or years but the music awakened something in them and prompted them to speech. Renaissance uses a staff of 25 volunteer artists for this purpose and typically delivers over 100 performances per year to audiences that are confined.

Therapeutic Entertainment

Renaissance Enterprises provides artists. Artists who then provide entertainment. Entertainment intended to bring comfort, fun, reassurance, love and respect to those living in care facilities or attending senior centers. Audience members may find the entertainment / activities therapeutic in some way. However, Renaissance Enterprises does ''NOT'' provide

Art Therapy Art therapy (not to be confused with ''arts therapy'', which includes other creative therapies such as drama therapy and music therapy) is a distinct discipline that incorporates creative methods of expression through visual art media. Art thera ...

, Music Therapy, or Dance and Movement Therapy. Art Therapists, Music Therapists, Dance Therapists, and Creative Arts Therapists are allied and/or mental health care professionals who go through a lengthy educational and training process, complete supervised fieldwork, and pass board exams. In the US, they are licensed or registered in some states. They also refer to the people they work with as clients or patients, not audience members. Renaissance Enterprises' artists do not seek to provide therapy, as they are not trained to do so. They do recognize, though, that music is very powerful and many of them have witnessed amazing moments during their work. *Live art (1) Creative art, such as a music performance, that is experienced live, in person, in real-time, rather than watching and/or listening to the performance on an electronic device. (2) "Live Art is when an artist chooses to make work directly in front of the audience in space and time. So instead of making an object, or an environment (a painting for example) and leaving it for the audience to encounter in their own time, Live Art comes into being at the actual moment of encounter between artist and spectator. Or at least even if they are not physically present, the artist sets up a situation in which the audience experience icthe work in a particular space and time, and the notion of ‘presence’ is key to the concerns of the work."

Notability

In 2006 the executive director was presented with the Mother Teresa Award for this work. In 1992, Mother Teresa wrote: "Your work of love in nursing homes, hospitals and for the aged, the neglected and the forgotten is truly the work of peace, for the fruit of love is service and the fruit of service is peace. Works of love like yours bring one face to face with God. Continue to use music to make the presence of God - His love and compassion better known to those in need - His little ones who have forgotten to smile. My prayer is with you in a special way and with all connected with Renaissance Enterprises." The organization's work has been featured in several newspapers and magazine, including Time Magazine, USA Today, Catholic Digest, Cover, Mature Years,

Daily Word The ''Daily Word'' is a daily inspirational message provided by Unity. Themes include inner peace, hope, healing, guidance, and others. It is distributed via print magazine, website, e-mail and through a mobile app. History ''Daily Word'' magazin ...

, National Enquirer and Detroit News. Renaissance is also included in CNN's iReport web presence, with a video and writeup about the organization.{{cite web , author=Samaesan , date=April 6, 2014 , title=Comfort, Love and Some Fun Too , website=CNN iReport , url=http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1117572 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603113038/http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1117572 , archive-date=2016-06-03 See the article on

for description of awards and recognition.

Funding

Renaissance is supported by charitable foundations, individual donations, corporate donations and support from the care facilities where they work and from sales of artist's CDs. Foundations that have supported Renaissance Enterprises include: * Arcus Foundation * Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo * Battle Creek Community Foundation * Berrien Community Foundation * Dorothy U. Dalton Foundation * Frey Foundation * Frederick S. Upton Foundation * Guido Binda Foundation * Harold & Grace Upjohn Foundation * Irving S. Gilmore Foundation * Kalamazoo Community Foundation * Leo Buscaglia Foundation * Frederick S. Upton Foundation * Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA)

References

Sources

* http://newmusic.clearchannel.com/artist/bobrowe Charities for the elderly Health charities in the United States Medical and health organizations based in Michigan Nursing homes in the United States Senior centers in the United States 1988 establishments in Michigan Charities based in Michigan