Art-making Kits Inspired by
the Met Museum New York Delivered Monthly to NYC’s Seniors
The monthly delivery of art materials and
activities connects over 1,000 seniors to the city’s cultural treasures while
many of them remain homebound.
The monthly “Your Met Art Box”
features four art cards with works from the Met’s collection
and activities for recipients.
The last year and a
half has posed unique challenges for many vulnerable communities, but the aging
population has been particularly impacted by the social restrictions and isolation brought
on by the pandemic. Citymeals on Wheels, already a lifeline for elderly New
Yorkers, significantly ramped up its efforts since the COVID-19 crisis began,
preparing and delivering over three million meals.
Now, the non-profit
is partnering with the Metropolitan Museum of Art to fulfill the artistic and
creative needs of older adults in the city by bringing the museum to their
doorsteps. “Your Met Art Box,” a monthly delivery of art materials and
activities inspired by works in the Met’s collection, engages seniors in
stimulating dialogues and connects them to the city’s cultural treasures
Two large-format
postcards included in each box act as free passes to the museum.
The box is sent to
over 1,000 Citymeals recipients and volunteers, with a different theme each
month — such as “The Art of Refreshment” in May, which included a curated
selection of tea from the local Chinatown standby Grand Tea & Imports along
with multi-sensory, drawing and tea-tasting activities. July’s theme, “Summer
in New York City,” will feature materials and instructions to design and create
a paper fan. Every week, volunteers trained by the Met’s Education Department
lead virtual conversations about the month’s selected artworks, encouraging
socializing and community-building among recipients.
“Many of our
recipients have fond memories of trips to the Museum but are no longer able to
stroll the galleries,” said Vivienne O’Neill, Citymeals’s Senior Director of
Volunteer Programs, in a statement. “With these monthly art boxes, sent
directly to their homes, Citymeals recipients and the volunteers who visit with
them can enjoy the wonder and inspiration of art.”
Off: hyperallergic.com People
interested in art can subscribe to their newsletter free of charge.
Maybe an outing once a year to local and nearby art galleries could be arranged for Martin Centre members?
