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.

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.

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.

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 audiences with this program through digital engagement. E-workshops, virtual exhibition tours, artist talks, studio visits, Free Art Sunday activities, yoga and more were delivered via email, Instagram and Facebook.

With a focus on diversity and accessibility, ten weeks of creative content was produced, directly engaging over 16,000 people, reaching an audience of more than 170,000 and involving 48 creative contributors.

Vicki Cornish (Bonsai Woman) does an artist talk to camera for #MRAGhomedelivery

In a few short weeks we became videographers, designers and presenters, sharing our knowledge with one another and developing new digital skills. The Gallery team are thankful our audience has been very gracious; we soon learnt that everything published doesn’t need to be perfectly edited and seamlessly delivered to connect and inspire.

Where to from here? As we re-open our doors and slowly re-introduce physical programs, much thought has been given to how we make the most of this learning curve moving forward.

Art-is-for-all and now, more than ever, we seek comfort, inspiration and connection with art and artists.

Stay tuned to our monthly ‘What’s On’ emails for more digital content to come.

If you missed any of the #MRAGhomedelivery content, head over to mrag.org.au/see-makedo-at-home/ and enjoy it at your leisure.

Words: Kattie Bugeja

Kattie Bugeja with her daughter Harriet.

As MRAG Arts Administrator KATTIE BUGEJA contributes to the leadership of one of NSW's most dynamic regional galleries.

IN HER OWN WORDS

I love talking about art! Talking about myself is a little more challenging! So, here is a very quick summary of why I love what I do:

~ For me, standing in front of an artwork, watching a performance, or hearing a musician is as good as it gets. Art connects us with ideas, emotions and each other and I think that is important.

~ I love being part of something bigger; a community, a vision, a team.

~ I have seen first-hand the profound effect arts education can have; it teaches critical thinking skills, facilitates challenging conversations, improves our well-being, and connects diverse audiences.