Environmental Humanities in the Time of COVID-19: Retaining Staff to Adapt Programming at CMBG for a Post-Pandemic Society

FAIN: PB-274306-20

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Inc. (Boothbay, ME 04537-5162)
Daniel Ungier (Project Director: May 2020 to October 2021)

Retention of eleven staff positions to develop virtual learning experiences and self-guided tour materials, redesign and implement new protocols for docents, and adapt a planned exhibition for safer visitor interaction, to support ongoing environmental humanities programming for the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ audiences.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens respectfully requests $225,903 to retain staff, key to advancing its mission and humanities programs during the interruption of operations due to COVID-19. This support sustains critical positions necessary to develop key programs that draw on many of the innovative concepts of the environmental humanities. We will create and refine virtual learning opportunities; develop additional self-guided tours and materials; redesign Discovery Carts and docent roles to enforce social distancing; and rework planning and implementation for “The Great Story of the Little People and The Giant Trolls,” essential to rebuilding our audience in 2021. CMBG currently faces serious economic threat. An Oxford Economics study finds that Maine’s economy is the single most vulnerable in the nation. We forecast a a 50% decrease in admissions for 2020, equal to losses of $1,332,400. As our income is 76% from earned revenue and 3% from reserves, these are catastrophic losses.