Social distancing, self-isolation, quarantine—no matter your PAUSE, it’s a tough time to be alone. By nature, we humans are social creatures (yeah, even the Introverts), and disconnecting from others hurts us—mentally, emotionally, and even physically.
But imagine how much harder isolation would be with the limited technologies of the 1918 influenza epidemic. We’re fortunate to have so many outlets for staying connected—and so many ways to keep ourselves entertained. And whether we’re indulging in books, video games, or binging on Netflix (or all of the above), we have artists to thank—and usually quite a few of them.
The entertainment and performing arts industries have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Film and television productions shut down, along with theaters, concert halls, art museums—and even the restaurants where struggling artists work their day jobs to make ends meet.
And yet, our need for entertainment and human connection persists, and artists and cultural institutions have stepped up, offering new and innovative ways for us to engage in, explore, and experience art around the world.
Virtually tour the Sistine Chapel and museums around the world 
Enjoy nightly streams of performances from The Metropolitan Opera 
The Getty Museum challenge has inspired brilliant DIY art recreations
Art in a Virtual, Social-Distancing World
- The Metropolitan Opera is hosting Nightly Met Opera Streams of free encores from its famed Live in HD series. The presentations begin at 7:30pm EST each night and are available for an additional 20 hours for opera-lovers who want to tune in at a later time.
- The Grand Ole Opry has a calendar of upcoming livestreaming performances and virtual concerts from country music artists who have taken their gigs online.
- Billboard.com also has a calendar of upcoming music livestreams and virtual concerts.
- The Guardian‘s livestreaming schedule features music, literature, and art events from around the world, including on-going cultural programs that can be virtually experienced from home.
- All Arts (from WNET) is offering free dance, music, and theatrical performances which are available to stream weekly.
- The Getty Museum has challenged fans to recreate famous artworks at home, and the #gettymuseumchallenge results are hilarious and inspiring. #betweenartandquarantine.
- You’re never too old to learn a new craft, so why not try origami? The Spruce Crafts‘ free illustrated tutorials including instructions on origami basics and kid-friendly projects.
Tour Museums Around the World (Without Leaving Home)
- France: The Louvre has virtual tours of several exhibitions, including The Advent of the Artist (Petite Galerie), Egyptian Antiques, Remains of the Louvre’s Moat (Medieval Louvre), and the Galerie d’Apollon (Decorative Arts).
- Italy: Explore the breathtaking interiors of the Sistine Chapel and its famous ceiling by Renaissance-era painter Michelangelo.
- New York: The Guggenheim‘s iconic spiral architecture and the entirety of its contemporary arts collection can be explored on Google Arts & Culture.
- Netherlands: The largest Van Gogh collection in the world is housed in Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum which can be explored via this virtual guided tour.
- Washington, DC: The National Museum of Natural History offers several virtual tours of its permanent exhibits, current exhibits, past exhibits, research stations, and even other virtual tours of the Smithsonian Castle and Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
- United Kingdom: Tour the British Museum through an online walkthrough of the world’s oldest national public museum, packed with antiquities from Greece, Rome, Egypt, and the Middle East.
- New York: The Museum of Modern Art‘s collaboration with Google Arts & Culture features detailed descriptions of more than 100 artworks from MoMA’s collection, along with a street view walkthrough of where the paintings appear within the museum.
- Explore even more iconic museums and locations around the world with Google Arts & Culture’s virtual tours, including France’s Musee d’Orsay, Los Angeles’ J. Paul Getty Museum, Brazil’s MASP, Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology, and The MET in New York City.
Resources to Help Artists Navigate COVID-19
While you’re indulging in hours of free cultural programming or binging yet another addictive TV series, remember that artists made it all possible, along with hundreds of other behind-the-scenes technicians, craftsmen, assistants, curators, and event staffs.
If you’re fortunate enough to have something to give back, please consider supporting the organizations and artists who made it all possible. And if you’re a freelance artist in need of help, check out these resources below. There are Super Awesome People™ who want to help you get through the pandemic so you can keep making super awesome art.
- Artist Relief
- COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources
- Freelancers Union Resources
- Creative Capital – List of Arts Resources During the COVID-19 Outbreak
- National Endowment for the Arts – COVID 19 Resources for Artists and Art Organizations
- Where Entertainment Industry Workers Can Go for Help (Los Angeles Times)
- CERF+ The Artists Safety Net
- MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund
- WomenArts Emergency Fund
- Resources for NYS Arts and Cultural Organizations – re: COVID-19 (New York State)