Stay Gold is an intergenerational arts program that brings together LGBTQ+ youth, adults, and elders to build community through collaborative art-making, dialogue, and shared learning in an inclusive, free space.

This is a collectively shaped program by and for LGBTQ+ participants and staff. Program activities include three six-week workshop cycles per year. Annual themes are selected collaboratively by participants, ensuring the content reflects the Stay Gold community interests. Since 2025 participant-artists have stepped into leadership roles by teaching workshops in their areas of expertise.

After nearly ten years of continuous programming, Stay Gold has demonstrated lasting impact through sustained participation, long-term relationships among participants, and strong connections to the museum.

Read from participants sharing about their experience at Stay Gold:

"As a low-income, queer, community organizer and activist, I rarely have the time or resources to engage in art for art's sake on my own. Stay Gold offers not only the container and the delightful imperative for engagement that helps me get out of my routine and sign up, but also the resources that I wouldn't be able to afford on my own. Stay Gold makes me feel seen and cared for in a reciprocal way that is so hard to access otherwise." A.

“I value this program in my city for its consideration of the LGBTQ+ community and our voices and the ability to learn how to create and express oneself positively at a time that feels very repressive.

I really value the connections I've made with people in this program, especially with older queer people. I enjoy trying new things as an artist and having a safe, inclusive space to do so.” K.

“I have been coming to Stay Gold for the past five or six years, and it is always a joy for me to engage in every workshop. I love that i get to be in community representative for me as a queer trans person; I love that it's intergenerational as I get to be in the same room with elders who always have wisdom to share and youth who always inspire our collective art projects is, we are always learning and connecting with each other, sharing with each other our different experiences and backgrounds that help us understand more of the world around us as well as build new skills. I always look forward to this program every year, and I cherish every moment and memory I make here and would like to make more in the years to come” BZ.

“STAY GOLD is such a remarkable program! I’ve been participating for the last six years and it has been an extremely valuable activity for me. I am a 71 year old lesbian and I appreciate the opportunity to not only interact with my queer community but to be able to meet and connect with the varied generations who participate. It’s so important for Queer seniors to have an opportunity to mingle with others. Since it's so easy to become isolated as we get older. I also deeply appreciate the opportunity to explore the various modes of creativity to which we are exposed” D.

Generous support for this program is provided by Community Foundation for Southern Arizona