CDC Awards Grant to LUAG for Community Wellbeing Enhancement
The Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG) have joined the Communities for Immunity initiative, a joint programme by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This national initiative aims to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence and forge deeper relationships within communities to increase resilience in facing complex challenges.
LUAG is one of 51 institutions to receive a $10,000 grant as part of the initiative. The grant will be used for a bilingual English-Spanish promotional campaign, #DrawTheLineAgainstCovid (#LaLíneaContraCovid). This campaign offers free sketching kits and one-year memberships to LUAG for those showing proof of vaccination.
The promotional campaign aligns with the current exhibition at LUAG, titled "Thinking Through Drawing: Works on Paper, Drawings, and Sketchbooks from the Collection and Community." The campaign's goal is to combat vaccine hesitancy by leveraging the power of art to engage audiences emotionally and intellectually in public health messaging.
Vaccine hesitancy remains a significant public health challenge globally and nationally. Initiatives like Communities for Immunity focus on community-driven engagement and dialogue, often incorporating diverse coalitions to address misinformation and vaccine distrust. While specific documentation of LUAG's participation in Communities for Immunity was not found, art galleries and cultural institutions can play a complementary role in such initiatives.
University galleries like LUAG, which are embedded in academic communities, have the potential to contribute by hosting exhibitions or events that address vaccine science, public health, or community stories related to immunization. This approach supports national campaigns indirectly through education and awareness.
In August 2019, LUAG adopted a renewed mission statement, "to advance critical thinking, cultural understanding, and well-being for campus and community through transformative experiences with art." The gallery has been leveraging its collection to foster wellness through exhibitions and programs that encourage creative expression, stress reduction, and mindfulness.
LUAG is partnering with a range of community organizations for the initiative, with a focus on vaccine-hesitant individuals. Museums are often considered among the most trusted community institutions, making them ideal partners in combating vaccine hesitancy.
William B. Crow, director of LUAG, believes museums can play an important role in promoting education about the vaccine and COVID prevention. He encourages keeping art and art museums in mind as places that support well-being at both the individual and community levels.
The initiative will be included in a national study that evaluates museum strategies to help communities in crisis. This study will provide valuable insights into the impact of arts-based initiatives on vaccine hesitancy and community resilience.
In summary, while there is no specific documented involvement of LUAG in Communities for Immunity found in the search results, art galleries can support vaccine hesitancy initiatives by creating spaces for education and dialogue, aligning with the goals of community engagement highlighted in national strategies. For precise details about LUAG’s participation, it would be necessary to consult LUAG’s official communications or community partnership announcements.
- Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG) aim to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence with a bilingual English-Spanish promotional campaign, #DrawTheLineAgainstCovid (#LaLíneaContraCovid), by offering free sketching kits and one-year memberships to those showing proof of vaccination, as part of the Communities for Immunity initiative.
- The campaign, which coincides with the current exhibition at LUAG, "Thinking Through Drawing: Works on Paper, Drawings, and Sketchbooks from the Collection and Community," seeks to combat vaccine hesitancy by engaging audiences emotionally and intellectually in public health messaging through the power of art.
- LUAG's partnership with a range of community organizations for the initiative highlights their potential role in supporting health-and-wellness, education, and cultural understanding of vaccine science and COVID prevention, aligning with their renewed mission to advance well-being for campus and community through art.
