Time to read
1 minute
Read so far

OJAC adds new online activities

0 comments

By Lynsi Musselman

While the Old Jail Art Center museum is closed to the public, there continues to be a variety of take-home and at-home activities for all ages.

“Museum Mix-tape” is a playlist inspired by works of art at the OJAC. Different Spotify playlists will post each Monday through June 1 on the OJAC Facebook and In-stagram pages, including images of the collection.

The playlists are intended to motivate those working or learning from home. Participants are encouraged to view the art and then enjoy the coordinating playlist.

To round out the week with culture, another family-friendly activity is being called the Albany Windshield History Driving Tours. Museum staff members curate a new tour biweekly, posting to their website www.theojac.org on Fridays at 5:00 p.m. 

The first tour debuted two weeks ago, and a new tour will continue to post every other week until June 5.

Each tour includes an interactive and printable map, guides with fun facts, and discussion prompts.

The first tour, “If This House Could Talk,” focuses on early historic houses in Albany. The map takes adventurers from Albany’s first house to the Nail Party House. 

Each of the eight stops has a printable guide with engaging history and trivia.

OJAC patrons are encouraged to be on the lookout for this week’s driving tour, "Crime and Punishment.”

During the coronavirus shutdown not only has the museum made quick use of virtual opportunities, the staff has been tackling the financial repercussions. 

OJAC executive director Pat Kelly said earlier this week that the staff has been busy writing and submitting grants for financial support to offset the decline in operating income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Given the overall economic impact of the virus as well as the downturn in the stock market and oil revenues, our income streams have been greatly reduced,” Kelly said. 

Kelly added the grants would help fund salaries, as well as pay operational costs and program expenses. 

“The grants are competitive, so there is no guarantee that we will receive them,” said Kelly. “It is important, now more than ever, that people continue to support all non-profits so they are still around to provide services when things return to normal. 

As far as reopening to the public, Kelly noted that the museum is following what other Texas art museums are doing while determining their own opening protocols.

“If the OJAC opens earlier than other Texas museums, we are concerned that people, anxious to get out and travel, will make OJAC a destination,” Kelly said. “Any other time this would be a good thing, but we have limited resources to safely cope with larger than normal numbers of visitors given the small staff and limited availability of disinfecting supplies.”