Ross Art Museum: Exploring Equality Through Humanities Programming During COVID-19

FAIN: ZPP-283950-22

Ohio Wesleyan University (Delaware, OH 43015-2333)
Erin Fletcher (Project Director: May 2021 to present)

Implementation of four exhibitions: Women Behind the Lens, Baltimore Lives, Deaf Republic, and Ron Anderson: Into the Light.

The Richard M. Ross Art Museum at Ohio Wesleyan University seeks Public Programming funding for four exhibits in our 2021-22 season. In keeping with the NEH’s More Perfect Union Initiative, these exhibits explore how we build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable society. This funding will support personnel costs associated with mounting the exhibits, helping to sustain positions impacted by COVID-19. In the wake of the economic impact of COVID-19 on institutions of higher education, the university has charged the museum with becoming fully self-sufficient. In the 2020/21 academic year this entailed a 30% blanket cut to the museum budget, which included severance of all university funding for museum staff. An NEH: American Rescue Plan Grant will allow the museum to carry on the public programming essential to its mission—and support staff—while we work toward long-term financial sustainability.