To say the COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis would be the understatement of the century; the pandemic has redefined life worldwide, in-person interaction has dwindled throughout industries and institutions in favor of a safer online alternative. Furthermore, the role of government has come under a microscope during this time; everything from mask mandates to vaccine cards to what is and is not designated an essential business has split communities and countries alike. In regard to museums and other artistic institutions, while they are essential to the formation of culture and are important venues of education and entertainment, I do agree with the sentiment that they are not essential in the same manner as hospitals and grocery stores. Furthermore, it only resonates that in the massive economic downturn that accompanied the pandemic, museums and artists were some of the hardest hit; after all, the majority of people who partake in the arts only do so when having the disposable income to do so and when the economy forces large swathes of people to choose between a visit to a museum and purchasing groceries, people unanimously choose the latter. Unfortunately for artists, who are also people with families and expenses, they bear the brunt of this misery as they do not even have enough to have an option in the first place.
Given these conditions, one of the only viable survival options for artists and museums are to move their platforms online, where the threat of a contagious virus is not applicable. Granted, this is easier said than done, especially considering the necessary foundation needed not only to translate physical art pieces into a digital medium but also entice viewers to visit in the first place. These factors are only compounded when accounting for artists just starting out or lesser-known ones who do not have the backing of a larger and more financially secure museum or institution. This is where the prevalence of technology and the access to wide ranges of Internet technology come into play, in fact, the appropriation of Internet technology actually helps provide an equal playing field. Considering that at its core, all Internet technology is effectively a tool, a means to an end, I think it only stands to reason that these tools be accessible to the general public. By prioritizing accessibility and leveling the online playing field, the defining factor will come down to an artist’s creativity, their ability to resonate with viewers in a meaningful and lasting way.