Project Zoomie

While Artspace is closed to the public, we remain committed to supporting the work of living artists and bringing people together online.

As healthcare workers across the globe battle to prevent the spread of the novel virus, Covid-19, we listen to their stories in the news and through personal conversations. We know the major stressors: they are grossly under-resourced, battling a virus they know little about, braving high disease exposure, and working through mental and emotional exhaustion. In an effort to boost morale and circumvent burnout in this time of urgent need, Artspace is leading a call for creative action.

Project Zoomie invites artists to provide care for our frontline caretakers by creating one-of-a-kind Virtual Backgrounds that can be uploaded to their Zoom accounts.  That’s right, as superhuman as they are, healthcare workers, are spending a lot of time on Zoom, meeting with colleagues during the day and unwinding with family and friends after hours.

To our healthcare workers— while we know that this creative action is the humblest of gestures, it will not save lives and it will not give you the deep tissue massages that you truly deserve, we hope that it will bring a little joy to your day.  Please know that as you work in the trenches, we are thinking of you, care for your safety and are deeply grateful for your service. If there are other ways that we support you, please let us know. Please download the Project Zoomie backdrops here.

To artists near and far— We are accepting submissions on a rolling basis. Please upload your Image or Video Virtual Backdrop to our online form, making sure to follow the guidelines provided.

To artists and healthcare workers outside of New Haven— If you’d like to bring Project Zoomies to your hometown, go for it! Email organizers Sarah Fritchey, Curator/Gallery Director at Artspace, sarah@artspacenh.org, or Adam Berkwitt, MD, Pediatric Hospitalist at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, adam.berkwitt@yale.edu, if you’d like to hear about the cross-sector platforms we’re using.