With museum professionals facing layoffs, stress, and isolation, it’s important to remember that we’re all part of a larger museum community. There are organizations offering financial and morale support to museum professionals all over the nation. Check out these resources, and join us on Indy Museum Exchange social media and Discord to continue the conversation.
Indy Museum Exchange Communal Spaces:
- Indy Museum Exchange Discord, a place to connect with museum professionals: https://discord.gg/BWXZtucrS8
- Indy Museum Exchange Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/766066707377351
Other Communal Spaces:
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/nempn/
- A group of emerging museum professionals sharing information, commiseration, and answering questions. Although IME is not affiliated with the moderators of this Facebook group, it is a robust community.
- https://www.reddit.com/r/MuseumPros/
- A preexisting group of museum professionals sharing information, commiseration, and answering questions from all over the world wide web. Although IME is not affiliated with the moderators of this Reddit, it is a robust community.
Financial Resources for individuals:
- https://www.aam-us.org/programs/about-museums/financial-relief-and-resources/
- Broad resource directory published by AAM. Offerings of financial resources for institutions and individuals.
- https://museumworkersspeak.weebly.com/
- COVID relief fund created by Museum Workers Speak tailors to individuals who have lost work due to the pandemic. After fundraising efforts they identify individuals who they’re able to support.
Mental Wellness Resources:
General Wellness
- https://happymuseumproject.org/resources/wellbeing/
- A resource for creating healthy, happy museums. Case studies and examples of methods for museum professionals to create wellness for themselves and their audiences.
- https://nationalempnetwork.org/
- This organization offers a place for “emerging museum professionals” to network, collaborate, and connect. Currently, there is not an Indianapolis chapter active.
- https://npengage.com/arts-cultural/self-care-in-the-museum-workplace/
- Q&A between 300 museum professionals and CFM director Elizabeth Merritt about issues related to self-care and mental health in museum work environments.
- https://icom.museum/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CommunityResilience_UpdatedArticle_EN_final_20200930.pdf
- ICOM’s report on actions that museums and museum professionals can take to support community resilience during and after the COVID-19 crisis and provides examples of museum initiatives and useful resources within the current context (April-August 2020).
Crisis Care
- https://in211.communityos.org/COVID-19
- This wide-ranging crisis hotline offers assistance for finding help managing stress, financial and housing resources, and mental health crisis assistance. 211 is also currently offering information and guidance on all things COVID-19.
- https://bewellindiana.com/
- A repository of aid resources for Indiana natives on a wide range of topics, including mental health, family crisis, and unemployment.
