The Taubman Museum Of Art

THE TAUBMAN MUSEUM OF ART WILL DEVELOP THE “HAPPY HEARTS” THERAPEUTIC ART PROGRAM TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. THE MUSEUM WILL PARTNER WITH 17 SOCIAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING A RANGE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND A PROFESSIONAL ART THERAPIST TO IDENTIFY PARTICIPANT NEEDS AND DEVELOP PROGRAMS. GRADUATE STUDENT INTERNS FROM RADFORD UNIVERSITY’S OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM WILL ASSIST IN DEVELOPING CURRICULA AND LEADING THERAPEUTIC ART SESSIONS. THE MUSEUM WILL WORK WITH AN EXTERNAL EVALUATOR THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT TO MEASURE PROGRAM EFFICACY AND SUPPORT ITS LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN NEW SKILLS TO ENHANCE SELF-ESTEEM; DEVELOP TECHNICAL ABILITIES TO ENABLE VISUAL SELF-EXPRESSION; ENHANCE CREATIVE CAPABILITIES TO SUPPORT SELF-ACTUALIZATION; AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS THROUGH SOCIAL INTERACTION.

THE TAUBMAN MUSEUM OF ART IN VIRGINIA WILL REPLACE ITS EXISTING WEBSITE WITH ONE THAT MORE EFFECTIVELY MEETS COMMUNITY NEEDS. THE NEW WEBSITE WILL PROVIDE CONTENT, PROGRAMMING, AND FEATURES DESIGNED TO SUPPORT A HEALTHY COMMUNITY RECOVERY FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THIS UPGRADE WILL INCORPORATE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT WEB CONTENT ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES TO PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE, USER-FRIENDLY ACCESSIBILITY FOR ONLINE VISITORS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR HARD OF HEARING. THE MUSEUM WILL HIRE A VIDEOGRAPHER TO SUPPORT DYNAMIC WEB CONTENT THAT WILL BE GUIDED BY FOCUS GROUPS OF MUSEUM STAFF, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY (EMPHASIZING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY), AND RESIDENTS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR HARD OF HEARING. IN ADDITION TO SERVING THE GENERAL POPULATION, THE ONLINE CONTENT WILL FEATURE RICH PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT K-12 AND COLLEGIATE PARTNERSHIPS BY PROVIDING VIRTUALLY DELIVERED CLASSROOM LESSONS.

PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A THERAPEUTIC ART PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AT THE TAUBMAN MUSEUM OF ART.