A Virtual Art Gallery Exploring Resilience and Creativity during the COVID-19 Pandemic
This virtual community art project is an opportunity for our Pitt students, faculty, and staff members to nurture a sense of community by creating, connecting, and sharing experiences navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis that is significantly affecting our lives. While the past several weeks have been incredibly challenging, through flexibility, ingenuity, and creativity we are adapting to our current situation and we want to hear how members of our Pitt community have been creatively adapting.
Existing evidence on the relationship between art and public health demonstrates that arts-based interventions such as this project can be powerful approaches for reducing adverse physiological and psychological outcomes and can increase social connections and cooperation.
Learn more about the Creating Community project from its creators, Sara Baumann, Post-Doctoral Associate in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences at the Graduate School of Public Health, and Jessica Burke, Professor of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences and Associate Dean for Education at the Graduate School of Public Health.
Creative Prompt
Using the supplies you have and your imagination, we are asking you to spend some time creating projects that address this question:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, how have you stayed connected and maintained community connections?
Submissions may include any creative medium you can think of, such as painting, writing, drawing, poetry, music, collage, filmmaking, comics, and beyond. Your artistic works will be curated and shared in a virtual gallery to highlight your creativity, shared experiences and stimulate community discussions. Your resourcefulness and innovation will serve as models and inspiration to the Pitt community as we seek to use these uncertain times to harness creativity and dedicate efforts to ensuring strong community ties.
Show Your Work
Share your project even as it progresses to keep everyone inspired. Use #PittCreatingCommunity on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
The Creative Cafe can also be a place for participants to connect while working on this project.
The finished projects will be on display at a virtual community art gallery webpage.
Submission Process
You can submit your final project as a digital file via this online form. Deadline Extended: Submissions are now due by May 4, 2020.
Be prepared to provide the following information when submitting your work:
- Title of your piece
- Medium used to create it
- What was your inspiration for the piece?
- What issues did you address/explore in this piece?
- How did creating this piece make you feel or impact you?