For over 20 years, the Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia has hosted a senior outreach program, in which senior centers from Athens-Clarke and nearby counties participate in a series of three workshops during which they look at, talk about and make art. Historically, the three-part program included a pre-visit at the center, a visit to the museum and a post-visit at the center again. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic required some changes to meet social distancing requirements for a very vulnerable population. Sage Kincaid, associate curator of education, rose to the challenge of redesigning the program.
For the new format, the museum prepared kits that participants would be able to use at their facilities. The kits include a full-color brochure that shares information about works of art, instructions to complete a related art activity and a nice set of art supplies. Kincaid collaborated with Athens Community Council on Aging (ACCA) on a recent Creative Aging program. For the month of October, seniors explored the exhibition “Carl Holty: Romantic Modernist.” The kits included information about Carl Holty and close-looking prompts for three works of art in the exhibition. The art activity was a tissue paper collage on canvas. ACCA’s Allyn Rippin, director of the Center for Active Living, hosted a Zoom meeting so participants could explore Holty’s art and create together.
While Kincaid misses being able to spend time with everyone in person, she acknowledges that the virtual format has brought about unique opportunities. She said, “We have been able to serve new audiences with the new formats. For example, more people have been able to attend Zoom workshops and lectures who maybe couldn’t come to the museum before. We had to think about how to meet people where they are and that is always a good practice for museums to engage in.” Kincaid reported that the program has received positive feedback. She says that the museum will continue offering some virtual and to-go programming even once it is able to host in-person programming again.
The Athens Community Council on Aging(opens in new tab) is a private, non-profit organization that provides services to support older adults in Athens and surrounding communities.
By Nekabari Ereba
