S PR ING/S U MME R 2020― 21
Creative Insight
Kattie Bugeja discusses how MRAG steered through the start of the COVID-19 crisis, finding new ways to meaningfully connect art with our community. In early 2020 MRAG, along with many other cultural institutions across the world, was forced into unchartered waters. On Thursday 26 March, we closed our doors for what was an unknown period of time.
Additionally, we were very mindful of MRAG’s role as a contributor to the region’s economy. The Gallery engages a vast array of arts practitioners, performers and educators (over 500 a year – we’ve counted) and we felt a responsibility to our team, many of whom, as sole traders, were experiencing the full and devastating economic impact of COVID-19 restrictions.
As our community faced the uncertainty of a global pandemic, we wanted to ensure your Gallery was here to support you. MRAG is a meeting place, a source of inspiration for many, and an active contributor to our community’s wellbeing. Inclusion is one of our core values and continuing to provide an accessible service during social restrictions – a time when the importance of community and connection has come to the fore – was a priority.
In response, the Gallery team created #MRAGhomedelivery, a weekly communication showcasing activities to See, Make and Do from the comfort and safety of your home. The decision was made early on to honour our commitment to MRAG’s exhibition program and develop ways of connecting 22
