What are you doing this weekend? Staying home? Same. Though no-one predicted we’d be in the midst of a global pandemic right now, isolation has given us a rare opportunity to slow down and get crafty within our bubbles. But, dare we say it, even Netflix and banana bread can get old and as we enter month two of COVID-19 being an official pandemic, it’s time to start getting experimental in finding activities to occupy us.
Thankfully, there are a whole range of virtual events now on offer, including art tours in some of the most famous museums in the world, at-home theatre performances and free evenings with Australian authors and their books.
The best part? Trackpants not only accepted, but advised.
Virtual Book Clubs
I’m the first to admit that reading more was at the very top of my isolation to-do list, but somehow I still haven’t managed to finish the first one on my very ambitious pile. To help get those pages turning, Hachette Australia has made its Books & Bubbles event virtual, wherein some of Australia’s top authors and new writers join via Zoom to talk about their new books. The evenings are free to attend and the next event is with author and journalist Jill Baker, who will be speaking about her new release ‘A Dog called Harry’.
Find out more here
Virtual Art Tours
Right now some of the biggest museums in the world are offering free virtual art tours and online exhibits, including the British Museum in London, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.
Find out more here
Virtual concerts
New York’s Metropolitan Opera is offering free digital shows every night at 7:30 p.m EDT (that’s 9:30am AEST). Each performance will be available to watch for 20 hours and shows include the likes of Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte” and Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly”.
Find out more here
Virtual theatre productions
London’s National Theatre is screening its award-winning plays online for free while it’s closed, including James Cordon’s ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’ and ‘Jane Eyre’. Plus, everyone’s favourite woman Phoebe Waller-Bridge has released her ‘Fleabag’ live show online for a limited time with all proceeds going to the UK’s NHS.
Find out more here
Virtual Art Classes
During lockdown, the NGV is offering its drop-by drawing classes virtually with video tutorials from artists, featuring step-by-step guides on how to draw and their creative tips and tricks.
Find out more here
Virtual park tours
For those unable to take their daily walk outside in nature, some of America’s best national parks are offering virtual tours. Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska comes complete with icebergs, kayak rides and glaciers while Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park will take you inside Nahuku Lava Tube – a famous cave formed by flowing lava.
Find out more here
Brought to you by Hachette.
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