Arts and Culture in the Age of

Covid by Iyala Alai ADAPTATION | Winter/Spring 2021

In an ordinary semester, a visitor to the Undoubtedly, the increase in time spent of each course. Yale Professor Edward Yale University (YUAG) can at home—up to 19.29% at the height of Cooke has taught Introduction to Art expect a warm and lively welcome. Stu- the pandemic—has led to severe loneli- History: Global Decorative Arts for over dents armed with cameras and notebooks ness and related mental health problems five years; the course typically meets in a eagerly examine each artifact, and guides across all demographics. According to a YUAG object study classroom, allowing wait to lead excited viewers through the leading health policy journal, the Health students to personally handle the pieces exhibit halls. The gallery attracts close Affairs Journal, Americans reported an discussed in lectures. Last semester, the to 250,000 Yale students, New Haven average increase in loneliness of between Yale University Art Gallery support- residents, and tourists per year to view its 20-30% after only the first month of ed Professor Cooke and his teaching sprawling halls and unique artifacts; class nationwide lockdown. These feelings of assistants in putting together a series of groups ranging from high school tours to loneliness have also led to an increase in videos showing in-depth handling of graduate school seminars investigate the the prevalence of depression, anxiety, each object by Professor Cooke himself. exhibits, all supported by a full team of and emotional distress. In the Yale com- In addition, he says, “the Poorvu Center 150 YUAG staff members. But the reali- munity, students were welcomed back to was a great source of support. They ties of this semester were quite different. New Haven in late August after months put together a team of video techni- As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of working from home. The necessary cians, writing center members, and staff of the country in March, Yale students scrambled to pack up and move home, and the gallery closed its doors for a six- month hiatus. “We are one part of this massive When they re-opened in September, the bustling atmosphere of the space was ecosystem across the world trying transformed by social distancing guide- lines and strict reservation rules. But with to help people connect, in our case, these changes also came an arsenal of virtual experiences that allow the local with art, at this very difficult time.” community to benefit from the gallery without compromising anyone’s safety. A restrictions on social interaction and members from accessibility services, with similar story has played out in galleries changes to college life resulted in feelings whom I brainstormed ways to adapt the and across the country and the of loneliness. Based on a September writing assignments and object study world. UNESCO estimates that over the article in the Yale Daily News, this senti- portion of the course.” course of the pandemic, 90% of muse- ment was particularly prevalent among Some courses, however, were not as ums closed at least temporarily, with 13% first-years. easily adaptable to the circumstances of at serious risk of permanent closure due In this time of isolation, cultural this year. Professor David Skelly, Direc- to sharp drops in their revenue. Despite enrichment activities like virtual muse- tor of the Peabody , describes this, the pandemic has also spurred cu- um-going have even more potential to the importance of in-person museum rated spaces to embrace digital technol- help us connect with culture and one tours to his first-year seminar, Collec- ogies in new ways, allowing patrons to another. As Stephanie Wiles, Director of tions of the Peabody: “The Collections explore history, art, and music through the Yale University Art Gallery, notes, course is aimed specifically at what we virtual tours, online talks, and interactive “What we [at the Gallery] were seeing can learn from physical objects and spec- presentations. Today, museum patrons, was really a great hunger on people’s imens. Our current world has brought , and alike are wondering part to stay connected. … We are one into sharp relief how important it is to what these adaptations may mean for the part of this massive ecosystem across the give students the opportunity to learn in future of . world trying to help people connect, in person. My course is really impossible The COVID-19 pandemic has our case, with art, at this very difficult to teach without that connection.” As a forced communities around the country time.” The YUAG held a book launch result, he is not teaching the course this to move their daily lives online: we try to by James Prosek in June as its first piece school year. build and maintain relationships with- of virtual programming, and since then Fortunately, The Peabody itself out ever meeting face-to-face; we attend has managed to convert many import- faced a nearly seamless transition to meetings with co-workers thousands ant aspects of its day-to-day operations virtual programming. The museum had of miles away; and we somehow still into online experiences. For example, been planning renovations for 2020 long manage to be late to the classes we at- all YUAG-based class sessions had to before COVID-19 hit. “In some sense, tend from the comfort of our bedrooms. be uniquely adapted to fulfill the needs we were a bit pre-adapted for the envi-

21 The Yale Globalist ronment created by COVID. We already the chance to experience them as part of we will be continuing to consider what knew we were going to be closing our a wider exploration of the culture and we can do to maximize [the] accessibility galleries in 2020,” says Professor Skelly. history of a destination. Maya Boateng of our programs and other resources.” “It happened earlier than we thought it (‘22) echoes Lone’s sentiments. She was Similarly, Dr. Wiles says, “The one thing would—March instead of July. That was a student in Professor Cooke’s Global we’ve all seen is that we were able to pro- disruptive for sure. But we had already Decorative Arts course in the Fall 2020 vide access to the gallery to people who planned to shift almost everything online, semester and notes that while the virtual might never get to come. We’ve always including summer camps.” course was the best response to a difficult known that…, but we’ve always been so Another Yale-based group, The situation, she hopes that future itera- focused on the in-person experience. … Black Arts Neo Collective, found success tions of the class can return to in-person We want to try to keep up our support in virtual spaces as well. The Collective is learning. “I think [virtual tours] might of audiences who aren’t able to make a student-led forum for black creatives to be more popular or used by people who it to the Gallery.” The YUAG finished collaborate and share their work, found- were previously unaware [of certain drafting a 5-year strategic plan this fall, ed by Nyeda Regina Stewart (‘22) and museums] …. but it will never be a full in which digital strategy plays a very led in collaboration with Rhea Sakinah replacement to seeing art or significant role. The pandemic has forced (‘24), Sonnet Carter (‘23), and Tobi in person because there is a value to that curated spaces to fully embrace the Makinde (‘23). Stewart recognizes that experience that you cannot get virtually.” digital age. But with the understanding the pandemic brought more opportuni- The future of virtual museum that in-person experiences are essential ties to her incipient group, saying “The experiences is as uncertain as the future to the enjoyment and appreciation of art, Collective was just getting its start before of the COVID-19 pandemic itself. As museum-goers can remain confident in the pandemic and because of people’s nations gear up to disperse vaccines the fact that packed museum halls and academic commitments, engagement was around the world, many recognize that busy tours will be a feature in our lives low. But once things switched to virtual the circumstances of 2021 could make once more. • and people’s commitments cut back, en- it a very different year than the past one gagement increased.” She adds, “People has been. Regardless, the pandemic may Iyala Alai is a junior in Branford College and from the Yale and New Haven commu- have brought about an irrevocable shift can be reached at [email protected]. nities showed up to our meetings this in the ways artists and art spaces use past summer and fall and we were able technology to interact with their audi- to broaden our reach because of that.” ences. According to YUAG Director Dr. The Collective has held many successful Wiles, “It was a real wake-up call for us virtual meetings since the summer, which to say, we need to think about our digital usually take the form of free-flowing cre- strategy, not only for the pandemic but ative workshops. They are also planning also going forward.” an online for the future. The pandemic also coincided with Although museums and classes have the societal shift that came with the Black made every effort to achieve a sense of Lives Matter protests this summer, and normalcy through virtual alternatives to the Black Arts Neo Collective is excited regular programming, there are some for what these changes mean for the things about the experience of viewing Black artistic community. “I’m looking and handling art in real life that cannot forward to the renaissance of works that be replaced. Gulminay Lone (‘22) was Black artists are producing right now. in isolation in her hometown for much This virtual world is giving us a new lan- of the spring and summer and although guage to express ourselves. And I think an avid fan of gallery tours, she did not it will rock the as we know it,” seek out any virtual arts activities. She says Stewart, the founder of the Black explains, “Usually I’d visit a museum or Arts Neo Collective. Yale galleries also gallery when visiting a new location or plan to offer different types of experienc- spending a day with others. For me, visit- es post-COVID-19. Professor Skelly of ing these spaces goes hand in hand with the Peabody notes, “We have learned so exploring a new place.” Despite provid- much this year, I can’t imagine that we ing access to culture from the comfort of will go back to a world where we fail to your home, virtual museum tours are an provide online access to talks, for exam- isolated experience—patrons do not have ple… Like so many institutions, I think

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