Art Kits for Youth and Seniors in Need

During this unprecedented time that we find ourselves in, members of the New Mexico community have many needs, concerns, and stresses to juggle. Within the first week that the Museum chose to close its doors due to the outbreak of COVID-19 across the nation, staff at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum began to brainstorm ways to help our neighbors. Staff have been profoundly concerned for our community, and have responded by supplying those in need with ways to relieve stress by staying engaged with the arts.

The O’Keeffe responded quickly to a call for much-needed art supplies for Santa Fe school children. The Santa Fe chapter of the National Educators Association put out a call for materials from area cultural organizations almost immediately after the public schools closed. Education staff-members assembled kits for students in grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8, which included art making materials and ideas for projects for students to do at home. These grade-specific kits were distributed at elementary school sites where students were picking up provided lunches, ensuring that the O’Keeffe kits got into the hands of the families that needed it the most. In total, 250 kits went out to children in Santa Fe at no charge.

Seeing the popularity of the youth-centric kits, the museum responded again to the need to engage with adults and seniors suffering from extreme isolation and loneliness. In mid-April, 500 mentally stimulating art-centric kits were distributed to those in need in Santa Fe and the Abiquiú area. Team members across multiple departments helped in this effort: they assembled items from the Museum Store, samples of O’Keeffe’s letters edited by Library staff, activities written by the Education department, and a multitude of other items to support those individuals who may not have access to resources or contact with others during this time. The Museum partnered with Luciente, Inc., and Senior Services of Santa Fe County. The kits went out through Meals on Wheels, to senior centers receiving meal delivery services, and other individuals receiving food deliveries in isolated areas in northern NM.

The devastating way that COVID-19 is affecting New Mexico’s Native communities is also fresh on our minds, and the Museum continues to look at ways to share resources. In a recent material distribution, 250 sketchpads went to children in the Santo Domingo pueblo, organized by artist Ricardo Cate.

The art kit distribution initiative will continue into May, in collaboration with other area cultural institutions. The goal now is to create material packets and kits for children who have been without access to the internet since schools closed. Further kits and paper materials are being distributed weekly at student food pickup sites throughout the city, in partnership with Communities in Schools. Through this partnership, thousands of copies of O’Keeffe coloring sheets are going out to kids over the next couple of weeks before school ends for the summer.

Speaking of summer – the Santa Fe Community Educators Network, as well as the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, have both been working long hours to ensure that there are amazing at-home resources for kids and families available online. Make sure to check them out!

While the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak is still very much a mystery, our hope is that initiatives like these will help our friends in our community continue to feel connected. That is one of the powers of art.

Editor’s note: We want to thank the Education team and all of the community partners who worked hard to create these kits safely following all state social distancing guidelines. What a team!

Please consider supporting this important work by making a tax-deductible gift to the Annual Fund today!