Items
topic_interest is exactly
Greater Boston
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2020-04-06Smallpox in Boston: Inoculation and the Revere Family
As the Covid-19 pandemic began to spread in Boston, museum interpreters at the Paul Revere house looked to the archives to learn more about how Boston has responded to wide-spread illness in the past. This blog post from The Revere Express blog explains how the smallpox epidemic effected the Revere Family and ways that 18th century medicine responded to the illness. -
2020A Sailor's Life, Live!
Although the museum usually hosts youth educational programs in the summer, they've made the programs available online. For children interested in learning about the USS Constitution, they can view videos like this one and watch museum educators teach about the ship and its history. This video also includes USS Constitution crew members. -
2020-07-28Jewish Women in the Labor Movement
This is an example of the types of virtual programs held by the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Based on the primary sources held at this institution, the society invited audiences to engage with the material virtually. -
2020-08Virtual Summer Research Stay-At-Home
This screenshot explains a virtual event hosted by American Ancestors and the New England Historic Genealogical Society. This event is an example of how researchers are adapting to the pandemic. With the building closed, the New England Historic Genealogical Society is hosting a program to encourage researchers to access digitized material and continue researching during the pandemic -
2020-04JFK Library From Home
This webpage explains to audiences how they can experience the John F. Kennedy Library and learn about the legacy of President Kennedy from home. By following the museum via the suggested social media platforms, audiences can see the highlights of the museum holdings. The library email digest, including museum opening updates and events, is also advertised on this page. -
2020-03-18John F. Kennedy Library COVID-19 News Release
This news release from the John F. Kennedy Library explains that members of the staff had completed their 14-day quarantine. However, the release maintains that the museum will stay closed. As an example of inter-organization communication and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this news release shares the timeline for closure and response at the JFK Library -
2020-04-16JFK35 Podcast
Although it existed before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the JFKLibrary Twitter account introduced the next season of the JFK35 podcast as a discussion about how President Kennedy's legacy is being carried out in the face of the pandemic. This Tweet not only includes the name and logo of a museum podcast, but also the a ways that podcast, and the the mission of the museum, stay relevant during the pandemic. -
2020-03-30John F. Kennedy Library Virtual Tour
The JFK Library engaged audiences by sharing a virtual tour of the Columbia Point Museum via a Tweet on Twitter. Individuals on Twitter can explore the exterior of the museum, beginning with President Kennedy's yacht, "Victura," sitting on the museum's lawn. Although museum-goers can't visit the museum in the conventional sense, individuals can still see what the museum looks like on its point in Dorchester, MA -
2020-04John F. Kennedy Library Virtual Backgrounds
These virtual backgrounds are used as a way to engage audiences of the John F. Kennedy Library during the COVID-19 pandemic. -
2020-07-17Post on Covid-19 and Interactives
From Emma Rocha, Curatorial Assistant at the New Bedford Whaling Museum: "I’m currently taking Introduction to Museum Studies at Harvard Extension School as the first of two classes I need to take before I can apply to their museum studies graduate program. I chose this program because it is almost entirely online and I can take one class a semester which enables me to keep working full time – I wouldn’t be able to pay for the classes otherwise. I am very lucky that I chose an online program because it has not been disrupted by Covid-19. One of my closest friends recently got accepted into law school (I’m so proud of her!) and she is still waiting to find out if she will be starting fall semester on campus or online, which is quite stressful for her. The class I am taking has a few participation elements, which are attending and participating in the optional online sections via Zoom (optional because they know some students are in different time zones) and posting on the classes social media platform, called YellowDig. I posted this on YellowDig because it fits in with the variety of posts we can make: comments or questions on readings, articles about happenings in the museum field, and thoughts on museums we work at or have visited. I really enjoy reading what my classmates are thinking about, because they have so many varied perspectives on museums and it is all fascinating!" -
2020-04-23Executive Office of Health and Human Services Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI) FAQ
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants published an FAQ about immigrant and refugee rights in Massachusetts during the COVID pandemic. Some answers given include: the closing of the border to refugees and how to seek citizenship during this time. -
2020-07-16Northeastern University Graduate Student Union Reopening Email
Adam Tomasi, member of the organizing committee for the Graduate Employees of Northeastern University-UAW union of research assistants, emails a survey about reopening needs to other students -
2020-07-09Northeastern University Update on Housing, Hybrid NUflex, and Fall Reopening
Email from Northeastern University, detailing reopening plans for the Fall 2020 semester -
03/26/2020Abner Bonilla Oral History, 2020/03/26
As part of Everyday Boston's Essential People Project on YouTube, Aunnesha Bhowmick interviews Abner Bonilla, a Roslindale mail carrier. Abner describes what it's like to deliver mail to more than 1,000 people during a pandemic, including his concerns about the lack of social distancing; his worry for his elderly customers; and the outpouring of gratitude he and other mail carriers have gotten. -
2020-04-14Massachusetts Museums Go Virtual During COVID-19 Pandemic
Video produced by WGBY discussing museums throughout Massachusetts as they transition to a digital environment. The video highlights commemorations of Dr. Seuss, including programs at the Springfield Museum, as well as other programming at the Eric Carle Museum and the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston. The video highlights the thoughts of museum staff as they transition to an online environment, and shows some of the approaches that different cultural heritage sites are undertaking to continue engaging with their audiences. -
2020-05-13Moving hands-on online
Online Question and Answers session done with the School and Family Programs Manager at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. The piece reflects on the Virtual Quilt Project, as well as the experiences of being an arts and cultural heritage professional during the CoVid-19 pandemic. This object highlights how museums have been forced to change their practices in response to the pandemic, and the unexpected benefits from some of those changes at the Institute of Contemporary Art. -
2020-07Exhibit Opening for Learned from Our Neighbors: Lessons from the Elizabeth Peabody House
Eventbrite webpage for the virtual exhibit opening of Learned from Our Neighbors: Lessons from the Elizabeth Peabody House, which is housed at the West End Museum in Boston. The page lists what the event will include and how the exhibition was created. This object highlights how museums are attempting to engage with their audiences during social distancing, including community cultural heritage institutions. -
2020-07-08Printing To Go
Twitter post from the Boston Public Library that highlights a new, socially distanced printing service that they are offering to the community. Social distancing and new cleaning requirements have limited people's abilities to access printers if they do not own one themselves. This object emphasizes how libraries and other cultural heritage institutions are altering their services to fit the current moment. -
2020-05-01Seat at the Table - Paper Chairs
Video produced by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, informing the public of how to be involved in their Seat at the Table exhibit even as the Institute remains closed due to CoVid-19. The changes that forced cultural heritage institutions to transition to virtual communication and exhibitions, especially impact exhibits that focus on community interaction and engagement. This object highlights how museums have taken those exhibitions, and personalized them so that their audience can still participate in a socially distanced setting. -
2020-05-27Looking at Art
Video created by the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston as part of the activities for their Play Date events, which are tailored to families and young children. The video is aimed at younger viewers and models for them how to look at a piece of art, and includes some questions for the audience to ask themselves. As museums have transitioned more to digital spaces, they have had to create programming that can appeal to all parts of their audience. This video highlights how museums are continuing to engage with children during the pandemic, and how they are using their collections in an educational environment even at a distance. -
2020-05-29Self Guided Activities
Self-guided activities that are part of the Play Date event series for children and families hosted by the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. As museums had to transition to virtual engagement and shut down their physical sites, they had to find new ways to interact with their audience. This was especially true for events tailored for younger audiences, who might not find the same enjoyment from a virtual museum as opposed to the physical space. -
2020-06-02Unlocking Museums: Moving Forward in a Crisis
Panel hosted by the Boston Globe on how museums may change and grow in response to the CoVid-19 pandemic. The panel includes the directors of the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, the Museum of Fine Art, and the MIT List Visual Arts Center. This video panel offers an reflection on how museums in Boston began to think about their reopening, and what policies they had in place over a month before some officially reopened their doors. -
2020-07-10Friday Art Notes: Riffs on Real Time
Essay written by the Barbara Lee Chief Curator of the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, reflecting on a piece of art in the museum's collection. This specific essay highlights the photographic series Rifts on Real Time, created by Leslie Hewitt. The essay itself reflects on the concept of time during of time during the pandemic, and the large amounts of time people have spent inside. In relating the thesis of the art to a common experience for some during the pandemic, the essay highlights how museums are relating their collections to the experiences of living in 2020. -
2020-07-01Welcome Back! Free Admission for All
Facebook event created by the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston to highlight their reopening schedule, and the free admission they're offering. The page also highlights timed tickets to control crowds, and what parts of the museum will be available when the museum reopens. This object highlights the conflict museums face in bringing back visitors and draw attention to their offerings, even as they need to continue limiting crowds. -
2020-07-09Jon Mitchell Tweets about arts and culture institutions reopening
Mayor Jon Mitchell of New Bedford joins arts and culture institutions from across New Bedford at the New Bedford Whaling Museum to announce that museums, arts and culture organizations will reopen on July 9 as part of Phase 3. -
2020Threads of Connection Virtual Quilt
Virtual project from the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston that is an extension of their Art Lab installation Threads of Connection. The project prompts people of all ages to create a quilt square of their own and email it to the ICA in order to continue building a vast digital quilt. This activity combines two things that museums have sought to do during social distancing; give people activities while at home and engage with them on social media. in doing so, it keeps museums relevant and engaging even if people cannot physically access their collections. -
2020-07-08Massachusetts Art Museums Are Reopening
News article published by WBUR in Boston that discusses the reopening plans of several art museums in the Greater Boston-area and the rest of Massachusetts. The article goes into detail about the opening plans of the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. As museums move away from closures, institutions are trying to spread knowledge of their openings as well as the safety procedures they're employing. As the pandemic continues, safe museums offer an escape from time spent indoors if one has the privilege of doing so. -
2020Virtual Harbor Market
Webpage from the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston that functions as an online version of the museum's summer harbor market. The page links to stores of BIPOC artisans and artists in the Boston area. Museums are more than just sites of learning, their spaces are often multi-functional and host many events throughout the year. Given the pandemic, museums have had to employ digital methods in order to take important programs/events and recreate them on their websites. -
2020-07Visiting the ICA: Know Before You Go and FAQ
Webpage of the Institute of Contemporary Art further explaining some of their reopening policies and answering likely questions. As museums are reopening, they require updated policies that are easily explained and accessible to visitors. This webpage offers further explanation on how new policies will affect visitors, and how visitors can obtain tickets to the museum once it reopens. -
2020-07-02Article on the Shaw Memorial Installation
Article from the Boston Globe covering the exhibit installation that has been placed on fencing surrounding the Memorial to the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, which serves as the starting point for the Black Heritage Trail. The exhibit covers the history and significance of the regiment, and includes pictures of primary sources related to volunteers. Outdoor exhibitions carry special importance during the time of the CoVid-19 pandemic, as they offer opportunities for the public to continue to interact with history even as museums remain inaccessible. -
2020-06-30Virtual ICA Gala Honoring Virgil Abloh and Sterling Ruby
Virtual gala hosted by the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston that honors two contemporary artists, Virgil Abloh and Sterling Ruby. The video features tributes from artists and others in the contemporary art world, as well as musical performances. Videos like this highlight ways that museums have sought to use virtual platforms to replicate events that once would have been in person. These events have significance in terms of raising money for the institution, as well as engaging their audiences and members. -
2020-07-09ICA Boston Reopening Policies
Reopening policies of the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, including their new practices for the museum, the store, and tickets. The document also covers additional safety measures undertaken by staff. As reopening has continued in Boston despite rising cases throughout the country, museums and cultural heritage institutions are publishing plans that highlight their safety measures and how they're protecting staff and visitors. This document highlights several of the policies that many museums are employing. -
2020-03-13New Bedford Whaling Museum Announces Closure in Response to Coronavirus Concern
The New Bedford Whaling Museum announces closure due to COVID19 pandemic. -
2020-06-30Welcome Back!
The New Bedford Whaling Museum announces reopening for summer 2020, during the the COVID19 pandemic. The announcement shares details about new hours, opening dates, museum rules, online ticketing and timed admissions, and what visitors should expect during their visit. -
2020-07-08HMSC Connects
Harvard Museums of Science and Culture offers HMSC Connects, programming built to "acknowledge the trauma of the times." The programming includes virtual programming, a podcast, online resources, coloring pages, and family activities. -
2020-06-12Racism and coronavirus add stress to already vulnerable communities
This is the third episode of the Boston Children's Museum's podcast, Big & Little, a podcast for adults about kids and families. "In this episode, Carole [Charnow} talks with Manny Lopes, the CEO of the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center and a leader in community health care, about the ways in which Boston's vulnerable communities are coping during this challenging time and how today's uncertainty offers room for positive change to come." -
2020-07-08
Museum Reopening Updates
Boston Children's Museum has posted updates regarding reopening in July 2020. Their June 24, 2020 announcement discusses BCM's commitment to their community and the safety measures BCM will be taking. "As we begin summer, I wanted to bring you up to date with our work to re-open the Museum. But first, I wanted to acknowledge your patience and support over the last three months. As parents and caregivers of young children, you have no doubt been challenged with schools and day care services being closed, work and employment disruptions, navigating through health challenges, and most recently the social upheaval in our country resulting from the death of George Floyd. More than ever, our children need our love and support. Their routines, friendships, and opportunities for play and learning have all been upended. It has been a trying time, with much anxiety and uncertainty testing us all." -
2020-06Art of the Parks Competition Created By Boston Harbor Now and the National Parks of Boston
Webpage created by Boston Harbor Now and the National Parks of Boston to inform the public about the 2020 #ArtofThePark competition. The webpage details the time period of the competition for each park, as well as the available prizes and where to locate each park's prompt. With social distancing, #ArtofTheParks offers those in the Boston-area a way to engage with heritage sites even if they still cannot physically interact with them. -
2020-06-30Boston African American National Historic Site - Art of the Parks Prompt
Twitter post from the Boston African American National Historic Site detailing their prompt for the #ArtofThePark contest. Participants are prompted to create a piece of art inspired by the site that illustrates the narrative of the BFNHS. Campaigns like this highlight how cultural heritages sites sought to engage with their audiences during social distancing, and how they hoped to continue to have the public interact with the histories they commemorate. -
2020-04-10Action for Boston Community responds to the pandemic on Twitter
Action for Boston Community Development(ABCD) is a nonprofit organization that works with low income individuals and families in Boston, Massachusetts. Low income communities have been hit the hardest during the Covid-19 pandemic, and ABCD offers resources such as food pantry services, diapers, and activities to keep children occupied. ABCD has been a staple in many Boston neighborhoods and while Covid-19 has created obstacles for the organization, they remain committed to serving the needs of the Community in any way possible. -
2020-06-26Boston Public Library, Shelf Service Live
Twitter post from the Boston Public Library, as part of their campaign to promote adult summer reading. Post announces that for the day (June 26th), librarians will be responding on twitter to people asking for book recommendations. Because libraries are no longer able to operate out of their physical spaces, librarians have had to seek new ways to interact with their publics and fulfill their traditional duties. Posts like this emphasize new approaches that librarians are taking, as well as the increased role of social media in interactions between libraries and the public. -
2020-06-20Summer Solstice 2020 Virtual Celebration
Video virtual celebration of the Summer Solstice hosted by the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture. The video includes scientific and cultural presentations, as well as activities. Programming is drawn from the four museums that make up the Harvard Museums. As museums have been forced into online outreach because of the pandemic, they have had to change how they celebrate and commemorate important days and events. -
2020-05Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston, Coronavirus Legal Warriors
"As legal first responders, at a time when many doors are closing, we are opening ours wider. In response to an unprecedented need, we’re adding a new coronavirus legal warrior to our team. This expansion is critical to deepening and expanding free support for affected families, including help with unemployment claims. We’re also unveiling a state-wide initiative to support hundreds of small businesses. We’re joining forces with over a dozen legal, business, and community partners, launching a large-scale initiative for small businesses affected by the crisis: https://www.covidreliefcoalition.com/en Check out our coronavirus resource page in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Join us on Facebook every weekday at 10 AM for the latest scoop. Injustice doesn’t take a break during the crisis — and neither do we." -
2020-05
Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston, Blocking Courthouse ICE Arrests
Boston's Lawyers for Civil Rights group filed a case blocking immigration arrests in and around courthouses. The pandemic has not stopped ICE from detaining immigrants. "Lawyers for Civil Rights’ landmark case blocking immigration arrests in and around Massachusetts courthouses, Ryan v. ICE, is the first case of its kind in the country. The case was filed in partnership with Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins, Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), and Chelsea Collaborative with pro bono support from Goodwin LLP. It is now on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit." -
2020-05Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston, Coronavirus Response
Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston offered this Coronavirus Pandemic Response update outlining the work they have continued doing during the pandemic, including information about intake, community legal education and outreach, legal advocacy, small business support, unemployment assistance, medical-legal partnerships, and litigation. "The demand for our free legal services has increased exponentially since the start of the public health and economic crisis. Since March, we have received over 350 requests for legal assistance (intakes). The estimated demographic breakdown is as follows: 55% Black; 25% Latinx; 10% Asian American; and 10% other." -
2020-06-03Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston, COVID Resources
Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston offer resources for legal, medical, unemployment, housing, and economic support on their COVID response webpage . This document is in English and the site also offers translations in Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese. While the world shut down for the pandemic, ICE continued to detain and deport immigrants here in the US, and the Black Lives Matter movement's response to police brutality sparked a number of arrests. Boston's Lawyers for Civil Rights organization has continued to offer legal support for those in need and has kept a running page of legal updates. -
2020-05-20A weird dream!
I think the pandemic just gave us a lot of time to do things we missed, and I know a lot of people have been having bizarre dreams/nightmares so I thought it would be interesting to one day look back on this period of time through my imagination.