JACKSONVILLE – While the doors are closed at the Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens, it’s offering a wealth of virtual exhibits, educational activities and more to keep families at home culturally engaged.

The museum shut down on March 14 to accommodate local, state and federal guidelines pertaining to the coronavirus but that didn’t stop the museum from continuing its presence for families on the First Coast. The museum’s director of education, Kim Kuta Dring said it’s essential that the Cummer be able to provide virtual services to the area.

“We believe that the arts and being able to experience artwork in person and digitally is important,” Kuta Dring said. “It’s an important reprieve for people, especially in times like this. We all need joy, beauty and culture in our daily lives and that doesn’t go away just because we can’t physically visit.”

That’s why the museum’s permanent exhibits are viewable online as are a number of art-creating resources, videos and more. Kuta Dring said the museum's social media channels, website and YouTube channel host a number of educational activities and videos for people to watch.

The art-creating tutorials have all been designed to ensure that the materials needed are materials easily found around the house so as to accommodate people staying at home. Kuta Dring said they hope the museum will re-open again this summer which would be perfect timing for its Friday evening summer programs.

Admission to the museum is free and special drinks and food selections are available throughout the museum on Friday nights.

“As soon as we know it is safe to gather groups of people, we’ll be ready to open and give the community wanting to visit the Cummer a moment of Zen that we’re all searching for right now,” Kuta Dring said. “In the meantime, we’re working to make those moments of Zen possible online.”

The Cummer has been using the hashtag #museummomentofzen like hundreds of other museums around the nation.

“Art has huge healing benefits,” Kuta Dring said. “We all need opportunities to reflect on beauty and joy, and to just slow down. Viewing art and experiencing artful moments...it’s all a healthy way to express ourselves and better handle stressful moments.”

Kuta Dring brought attention to the family section of the museum’s website as it is currently stacked with resources for not just families, but everyone. Adults and children can explore the museum online and create art at home using inspiration from pieces on display at the museum. A virtual tour of the museum will soon go online as well, according to Kuta Dring.

People can also order food from the on-site food vendor, Chef’s Garden.

Delivery is complimentary on all Chef’s Garden orders of $150 or more and they encourage neighbors to order food together to hit the price point for the free delivery. There’s a $15 delivery fee otherwise. Chef’s Garden is also sharing a number of cooking classes online through the museum to give people something new to try.

Everything the museum is currently offering during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic can be found or navigated to through cummermuseum.org.

“It’s really exciting to be able to reach families during these times,” Kuta Dring said. “It’s why we feel it’s important for organizations like us to support the community.”