Nonprofits continue to use digital tools to innovate, connect, inspire, educate, and support their communities from a distance. We’d like to showcase organizations around the country that are doing “good work” during this uncertain time.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is building a foundation of discovery.
DIY Sci is a project that uses a free app to give kids weekly “missions” that teach them about natural science topics by building with household supplies. The game started with the Biocube Build Challenge, which ties into the CMNH ongoing citizen-science project, ProtectCLE. These 1-2 hour projects are great for a special weekend activity that gets kids exploring and creating. View others' creations in the app or share on social media and tag CMNH.
FP Creative is fostering connection long-distance through live music.
From producing unique concert experiences to commissioning up-and-coming artists, FP Creative is a Cleveland-based organization that supports musicians in a variety of ways. Through their new Long Distance series, they are using technology as a platform to help artists collaborate and connect with audiences. And true to their experimental nature, they are utilizing Twitch to live stream these classical music performances. Follow the schedule of upcoming live concerts here.
Pendleton Public Library is documenting living history.
History as it Happens is a simple yet impactful project designed to provide a window into this unprecedented time in our world history. Residents of Pendleton County, KY are encouraged to write to the library to share how the pandemic and quarantine is affecting them in order to document first-hand accounts of life during the COVID-19 era for generations to come. The library also created a short video to provide even more tips on how to submit.
moCa Cleveland is giving you a glimpse into the artist’s process.
Ever wonder about the process behind the piece? Tune in to 15 Minutes of . . ., a weekly series hosted by the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland for this behind-the-scenes experience. Each week, moCa uses Facebook Livestream to feature a different local artist who creates a piece in just 15 minutes. After the piece is finished, audiences have a chance to comment and win the piece for their own home collections. Follow them on Facebook to follow the series.
Piano Cleveland is supporting musicians globally while sharing their art.
Until this year, musicians from all over the world gathered annually in Cleveland for a two-week international celebration of music and competition among the most talented emerging pianists in the world. In light of COVID-19, Piano Cleveland created Virtu(al)oso, a virtual take on this annual competition designed to provide financial relief for musicians while still sharing their artistic gifts. This year, the prize money will be divided more equitably among the competitors and audiences will be able to tune in through the Piano Cleveland website and social media channels in order to watch the competition live from July 30 - August 9.
The Gilmore Keyboard Festival went virtual with Virtually Gilmore.
When the annual Gilmore Keyboard Festival was canceled, they quickly pivoted to a virtual format featuring a mix of streaming and archived performances. Virtually Gilmore began on what would have been the first day of the 2020 Festival with a slate of internationally known artists. Recordings of the Festival’s archival and live performances can be viewed on their Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Keep up the good work!
