Adapt, evolve and overcome: the arts world goes digital

Cultural institutions and tourist attractions are shut for the foreseeable, but fret not—it’s still possible to get your arts fix from the safety of your couch. Thanks to advancements in technology and the economy of globalisation, the world of arts and culture is at our fingertips. Here’s a roundup of highlights from our current virtual world of culture. 

Theatre

The National Theatre in London has brought the stage to the screen for May 2020. They’ll be streaming iconic plays from their archive on their official YouTube channel every Thursday at 7pm BST—best of all, it’s free!

Fringe Theatre

If you prefer something a bit more light-hearted, you can watch one of the hits of 2019’s Edinburgh Fringe on YouTube. Teddy Lamb’s Since U Been Gone is a moving autobiographical show about growing up queer, finding yourself and losing a friend—with lots of America’s Next Top Model references to boot.

Circus

If physical theatre is your thing, go one step further and watch some circus. Gandini Juggling is at the vanguard of contemporary circus and the company has tasked itself with reinventing juggling for the modern world. You can watch their show Smashed—a skillful, witty and playful homage to the work of Pina Bausch—on Vimeo.

Smashed, Gandini Juggling

Dance

Leeds-based touring dance company, Northern Ballet are committed to making great dance digital—as evidenced by the fact you can watch Kenneth Tindall’s dance film Ego on their digital platform. It features world-class ballet, krump, popping and bboying.

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Film

Between Netflix, Amazon Prime and Mubi (to name but a few) there is no shortage of online viewing platforms through which to watch movies. However, if you’re looking for new releases or the best in global films—and don’t mind parting with a few bob—you can rent them from the BFI Player.

Art

When it comes to art galleries and exhibitions, the world really is your oyster. Thanks to Google Arts & Culture tours, you can view high-definition images from collections in over 1,200 international institutions—not to mention take virtual tours. Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum, Oslo’s Munch Museum and of course MoMA in New York—you name it, Google’s got it. They also offer the same for heritage sites if you feel more like a tour of the Pyramids than an art exhibition.

Nature

Yearning to get outside but don’t want to break the rules? Explore Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way from a new angle—that of your screen. From the comfort (and warmth) of your living room, you can see the beautiful, rugged landscapes along Ireland’s west coast with 360° virtual reality videos. It’s even better if you have a VR headset lying around.

Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way