Connecting With Community

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Connecting With the Community Online

Valdez, Alaska, April 23, 2020 –“The Valdez Museum is your community museum.” That phrase is echoed many times when we reach out to inform the public about exhibits, events and educational programs at the Museum. The Museum’s doors are now closed to visitors indefinitely due to health concerns relative to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are using social media to stay connected in the face of social isolation. Museum Staff are busy exploring a myriad of new and creative ways to adapt exhibits and programs for an online format.

Technical challenges abound, as we conduct Zoom meetings and attend webinars to learn new skills, like the best use of social media platforms and how to perfect video production techniques. We are constantly creating new online programs that teach, entertain and stimulate creative energy. These programs are posted on our website, with links to videos on the Valdez Museum Facebook page. These are current offerings, with a host of others in development:

Virtual Education is a series of art and education programs that includes art workshop videos produced by Faith Revell. Tales from the Archive features a live broadcast from the Archive with Andrew Goldstein, Curator of Collections & Exhibitions and Kyle Klause, Curatorial Assistant. What is Wednesday? a weekly video guessing game, highlights “mystery” artifact from our collection. Friday Live Museum Chat is a Facebook Live visit with Patty Relay and Marcia Lynn talking about current museum news.

You and family members can enjoy these museum programs and more in your own home during this time of social isolation. Communicating and sharing through “virtual” programming is our main focus, and in the words of Museum Director Patty Relay:

“The goal is to actively engage the community through collections. I wish you all good health. My philosophy continues to be–stay calm, stay informed and keep moving on.”

Contact:
Patricia Relay, Executive Director                                      
Tel. 907-835-2764, Email: prelay@valdezmuseum.org