Aspen Policy Academy

Cultural Engagement to Mitigate Social Isolation

COVID-19 has presented GLAMs (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) and performing arts organizations with new, urgent demands to create services and programs that mitigate the effects of social isolation. But while many organizations want to accelerate their programming, most need help with training, funding, and other forms of technical and creative support to respond at the speed or scale necessitated by COVID-19. 

In this initiative, a cohort of 10 museums, libraries, and performing arts organizations have joined together to collaborate on the accelerated development of experimental digital programs to mitigate social isolation. The organizations, based in 8 states across the US, range from museums and performing arts organizations to a major public library system to a small nonprofit that uses museum experiences to serve patients of dementia and their caregivers. Participants will receive expert coaching and support in digital strategy, design thinking, creative development, and online audience engagement techniques. The project team hopes other institutions will follow on from the initial example in the near future.

Browse Related Projects

Tech

A shot of a sloping hill covered in buildings and trees.

Data-Sharing to Increase Young Mothers’ Benefits Enrollment in Central California

By Anna Banchik, Renata Bartlett, Nolan Green, Dorin Horsfall, Lee Howard, and Kash Sridhar

Tech

An image of the pastel colored "Painted Ladies" Victorian building in San Francisco.

Supporting Medi-Cal Recipients by Screening for Employment Eligibility in San Francisco

By I-Chiang Chen, Melinda Bernardo Cuerda, Kate Fisher, Carolyn Rojsutivat, and Emanuel Schorsch

Tech

Image of a pink apartment building in San Francisco.

Digitizing the JobsNOW! Intake Process for Medi-Cal Clients in San Francisco

By Susie Forbath, Tim Lillis, Cedar Louis, Jud Neer, and Anthony Vasquez