This project assessed the accessibility of youth arts programs during COVID-19 delivered by government and non-government organizations in Worcester Mass. The project, sponsored by Main IDEA of Worcester, specifically evaluated the impacts on arts programs due to COVID-19. An audit of programs was conducted along with a survey of youth organization directors and a survey of Worcester residents. Interviews were conducted with arts program directors and grant program officials. It was found that arts programs transitioned to virtual delivery, suffered staff layoffs, and were faced with lower youth enrollment. The project recommended that Main IDEA increase its staff, expand its arts programming, and provide mobile hotspots for under-resourced families with limited internet connectivity.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Vreeland, Avery Mcdevitt
• Mei, Jeffrey
• Gatsonis, Achilles N.
• Sayegh, Miriam
• Mills, Nicholas Paul

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-063020-170431

Keyword

• Education in a Technological Society

Advisor

• Roberts, Laura

Year

• 2020

Center

• Worcester Community Project Center (Massachusetts) - IQP

Sponsor

• MainIDEA

Date created

• 2020-06-30

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright