Social isolation, social distancing, self-quarantine… no matter what we call it, being stuck at home stinks.
It also has its advantages. In between navigating the new role of homeschool teacher and trying to maintain some semblance of work/life balance, it is essential for parents to carve out some time just for themselves. And what better way to do that than to have a mini-Renaissance of sorts with all of the cultural offerings now just a click away? Here are just a few ways to get a daily dose of the arts from the comfort of your home.
Watch a broadway show.
This digital platform for theater lovers has been around since 2015, but with Broadway theaters shuttered indefinitely, it has never been so necessary. Here, you’ll find classics like “Death of a Salesman” and “Cats” along with more recent performances like “Kinky Boots” – and you can watch them all from the comfort of your couch. The platform is currently offering a free seven-day trial, along with an $8.99 monthly plan.
View works of art from around the world.
Google Arts & Culture connects you with works by the masters housed in museums around the world –from the Musee d’Orsay in Paris to L.A.’s J. Paul Getty Museum, and everything in between. View works by Monet, Frida Kahlo, Picasso, Rembrandt and Dali just as you would view them when walking through the galleries in the world’s greatest museums.
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Go to the opera.
The Metropolitan Opera in New York City was forced to cancel the remainder of its season, but the music must live on. Every day, they will present a different encore presentation from the company’s Live in HD series through for free, on-demand streaming. Each performance is available for a period of 23 hours, beginning at 7:30pm EDT. The streams are also available through the Met Opera on Demand apps for Apple, Amazon, and Roku devices and Samsung Smart TV.
Stream the symphony.
In light of the halt of live performances, Classical MPR is serving up an enhanced list of musical performances and concert libraries that can be enjoyed at home. Visit their site to see a daily schedule of performances, which will then remain on their site to be enjoyed for 24 hours.
Take a landmark tour.
Take in the view as seen from the top of the Eiffel Tower, get up close and personal with the Taj Mahal, take a tour of the Kenilworth Castle in the U.K. and much more through Google Arts & Culture’s street views.
