Museums and galleries offering online activities
With life still at a standstill and most of us stuck at home, the effects of the self-isolation period have likely taken hold. Confined to a few rooms, the thought of even going to the store may be overwhelming, not to mention the boredom that bleeds through and blends the day together. Fear not, for there are several museums and galleries that have taken to providing resources and activities online, many of them being free.
Several of British Columbia’s cultural sites have created virtual experiences. The Vancouver Art Gallery, for example, has PDF activities to motivate and cultivate creativity. While they are geared toward children, anyone could use them as a springboard into a new art skill or creative project. Additionally, the gallery offers Art Connects, a series of online Zoom gatherings running from March 31 through to June 30 on Tuesdays and Fridays. These streams will include guests from both local and international art communities, and there are already a number of past events archived on Vimeo for one’s viewing pleasure.
The Royal B.C. Museum, located in Victoria on Vancouver Island, also has online activities for people of all ages. Most exciting are their virtual field trips where host Liz Crocker takes spectators on tours of some of Victoria’s outdoor spaces. These field trips can be accessed either through Zoom or via Facebook Live, and previous trips can be watched on the museum’s YouTube channel. The museum also has a number of other free activities, including the Emily Carr Timeline, which showcases the museum’s highlights from their Emily Carr Collection.
The Museum of Anthropology located at UBC, similarly to other museums, offers a 360° virtual tour of the Great Hall as well as an online exploration of their archives and collections, which includes historical documents, photos, and objects.
Online activities are not limited to local B.C. institutions. The Louvre in Paris offers a number of virtual tours of the gallery, including a look at their Egyptian Antiquities collection, and a look at the remains of what was the Louvre’s moat. The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. is another prestigious museum offering virtual tours. Through their website, one can tour their past, current, and permanent exhibits, with additional tours of the Smithsonian Castle and 360° tours of the Museum Support Center and research stations. The Tate Modern in London is offering an online view of galleries ranging from British art throughout history to more modern pieces. The Tate Modern even has online art tutorials for those who want to learn to paint like some of the featured artists.
If you have an interest in architecture, the Guggenheim located in New York offers an exploration of the building through time along with an audio guide. They also have a variety of “Artist Profile” videos showcasing interviews from contemporary artists who have been featured in their exhibits. Another showcase of extraordinary architecture is the Winchester Mystery House located in San José, California. While it does offer some free downloadable activities, they do have paid online tours including a video which can be rented for a period of 72 hours or purchased, as well as a one-time payment 360° virtual tour of the house.
Finally, Google has an extension entitled Google Arts & Culture which offers online resources, such as an “Art Camera,” which has a collection of high-definition artwork, allowing you to get a close look at famous paintings, right down to the brushstroke. There are 360° videos to have an interactive experience while maintaining physical distancing. There is also “Street View,” which allows people to tour famous sites and landmarks including, but not limited to Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the British Museum in London, or the Museo Frida Kahlo in Ciudad de México.
Even when stuck at home, the internet has allowed people to stay connected. Museums offering virtual tours is just another way to do that, with the bonus of not travelling or paying what can be pricey admissions fees.
