ASU Art Museum has always been more than a building to showcase art. 

In addition to presenting contemporary art in all media by regional and international, emerging and established artists, the museum also aims to be a cultural commons in a rapidly changing cultural and political landscape and to be a new model for a different and more relevant kind of museum — expanding and deepening the ways in which all people experience and value the visual arts in their own lives.

When the ASU Art Museum, part of the Herberger Institute, temporarily closed its doors in the wake of COVID-19, museum director Miki Garcia welcomed the call to rethink the role of the museum and engagement with the community.

“From the beginning of our hiatus, we quickly pivoted and asked ourselves: How do we embrace new methodologies within the digital world, and make authentic connections through art and storytelling in the cultural climate in which we find ourselves?” Garcia said.

The museum found innovative ways to virtually connect with audiences and share exciting art experiences that bring solace, connection and inspiration. With its #musuemfromhome campaign, ASU Art Museum posted daily on social media channels to make the collection and educational programming available remotely, with a behind-the-scenes look at exhibitions, at-home activities, monthly virtual programs and more.

The museum also engaged with the community through music. Artists, curators and museum staff create playlists on the museum’s Spotify profile. These playlists feature music that inspires their work or pairs with museum events and exhibitions.  

Curator Brittany Corrales put together a playlist inspired by the exhibition “Art in Focus: Highlighting Women Artists from the Collection,” which was developed based on the museum’s efforts to create a more inclusive and representative space. ASU-LACMA Fellow Matthew Villar Miranda made a playlist responding to the current moment. For the museum’s “Michael Sherrill Retrospective,” Sherrill was invited to create a playlist of his own.

Browse the ASU Art Museum’s music library and listen to its playlists.

Follow ASU Art Museum on social media to #museumfromhome.