Dear Friends,
I hope this newsletter finds you well – safe and healthy. I have been thinking a lot about our friends across the country and world lately, wondering how the pandemic is affecting you, and if there’s any way we might be able to help.
Like many of you, I am working from home today. As my daughter plays in the background, I’m adjusting to my new normal, and how to respond to the challenges now faced by the Ward Museum and our community. It’s amazing how much can change in a month. We went from buzzing in our busiest, pre-“Worlds” season, to pressing pause on major Museum events, on school field trips, on art classes, gallery tours, and so much more. But, there are also positives to point to during these difficult days. As of now Museum staff are all healthy, and we’re hopeful as we look to the future. We are using some newfound time to strengthen existing programing, but also work on new programming that I’m really excited about. We’re trying to be flexible, as we adapt to today’s needs.
As the situation across the country and world has become more distressing, I’m reminded daily of our collective need for the arts, community, and nature—and the remarkable role the Ward Museum has to play in each of these areas. The arts, our connection to others, and our ability to find ourselves in the outdoors—these things mean so much these days; they keep us anchored, and they are what the Ward Museum does best. And so I am buoyed by the kindness and ingenuity I see in our extended Ward Museum community — the efforts to dig deep into what it is we do (paint, sculpt, carry on tradition, teach), and to maintain connection as we care for one-another.
While Ward staff are working remotely to keep the ball rolling for when the Ward Museum reopens, some staff and many friends of the museum are working on virtual resources to help get us all through the coming weeks. So far these include videos from carvers’ workshops, virtual Drop in Art Jr. story time and crafts, online updates on exhibit progress, and new lesson and activity plans for parents and other caregivers who find themselves now as teachers in a new way. Check some of that out on our new Virtual Learning page. We’re also planning virtual tours, and for a virtual get-together the weekend that should have been the 50th annual Ward World Championship. Keep an eye out for details on social media at Facebook and Instagram. We look forward to seeing many of you then — if remotely.
We also welcome other ideas, as well as questions and concerns, as we find our way through this unusual time.
In addition, I have had many people ask, “How can I be helpful during this difficult time?” My clear and short answer is that we need people who care about the Ward Museum to continue to support us charitably. Simply stated, today, even though we do not have members and friends visiting our museum and supporting our cause, we are still fulfilling our mission and we are still planning for a future of engaging programs. As we plan for that future, and continue to serve our mission today, our commitment is to continue providing access to the arts, community heritage, and the environment in new and fresh ways. As you are able, I invite you to join with me – join with us – and consider joining the Ward Museum as a member, or donating what you can. Every gift amount will help.
Thank you for everything you are doing to help keep us all safe and healthy, and thank you for your encouragement and support as we work to put the best of the Ward Museum out there for the world—virtually, for now. I look forward to seeing you at the museum this summer for exhibit openings, the Art in Nature Photo Festival and Delmarvalous Festival, this fall for the annual Fall Migration Gala, or even next year at the 50th anniversary of the Ward World Championship. We will get through this all together, and we will come out stronger—because of our support of one another during this time.
And for now, stay home and stay safe. And wash your hands.
Take care,
Kristin Sullivan
Executive Director
