FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2021
CONTACT: Johanna Tschebull
Dance/USA is pleased to announce a free new online resource to help artists and arts organizations document and preserve the record of the dance field’s experiences and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Available on the Dance/USA website, Documenting Your Experience During COVID-19 offers suggestions for how artists and arts organizations can document the effects of and responses to the pandemic, as well as information about national or regional efforts to collect archives of the COVID-19 pandemic. The guide includes links to information about conducting oral histories, archiving social media, and ethical practices for documenting traumatic experiences.
Tell Us About Your Documentation and Archiving Efforts
Dance/USA wants to hear about the field’s documentation and archiving efforts, and can offer guidance and services through the Archiving and Preservation Department. We encourage individuals to respond to a brief survey about their archiving activities, and to contact the Archiving and Preservation Department with questions or to request a consultation.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense hardship for many in the dance field. It has been a time of loss, grief, and anxiety, as well as resilience, creativity, and connection. In the future, there will be great value in having a record of this time, how people coped, how the dance field responded, and how the arts endured.
Additional Resources for Archiving During COVID-19
Looking for more information? Archiving During the Coronavirus, a free suite of resources on Dance/USA’s website, offers tips and suggestions for how to securely preserve digital archives, projects that can be done at home, and how to use digital archives for engagement.
About Dance/USA
Propelled by our belief that dance can inspire a more just and humane world, Dance/USA will amplify the power of dance to inform and inspire a nation where creativity and the field thrive.
Established in 1982, Dance/USA champions an inclusive and equitable dance field by leading, convening, advocating, and supporting individuals and organizations. Dance/USA’s core programs are focused in the areas of engagement, advocacy, research, and preservation. Learn more about Dance/USA at danceusa.org.
