A Virtual Cultural Event Roundup by Kristen Schweizer
March 18, 2020
San Diego citizens have been called to help flatten the COVID-19 curve by social distancing. As of today, Governor Gavin Newsom Issued a Stay at Home Order for the entire state of California. With this news, San Diego artists and arts organizations are helping to keep their spirits up during this time by presenting a variety of digital cultural experiences that we can enjoy from home. Below is a list of ongoing virtual experiences to help you #stayinspired through the isolation.
Do you have an online event, performance, or experience to add to the list? Comment or e-mail us HERE!
SAN DIEGO:
Poetry
Poets Underground at the Acid Vault: This virtual interactive open mic live stream is the perfect place to share your spoken-word piece and hear the voices of other San Diego poets. Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 7PM PST via Instagram. CLICK HERE for more info.
Community Concerts
#BandTogether is a virtual concert collection with a new band each night. The collaborative fundraiser will support the local music industry as 100% of funds raised go to the musicians. CLICK HERE for more info.
Improv Comedy
Finest City Improv will live stream their comedy on the fly and keep up their regular weekend laughs! Follow their Facebook to watch their teams go live Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM PST. CLICK HERE for more information.
For the Whole Family
San Diego Zoo & San Diego Zoo Safari Park Enjoy pre-recorded videos and exhibit live streams of our favorite zoo’s favorite creatures! CLICK HERE for more information.
San Diego’s online archive of public art: Managed by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, the Civic Art Collection has grown since 1909 to include paintings, sculptures, works on paper and prints and the murals exhibited in municipal buildings. CLICK HERE for more information.
San Diego Farmer’s Markets: With open-air Farmer’s Markets canceled, Market Box is a new partnership to support local farmers/vendors to distribute their fresh food for delivery or pick-up. CLICK HERE for more information.
NATIONAL arts organizations offering online cultural experiences:
Broadway HD is providing a free 7 day trial access to their immense archive of full length productions. The playlist contains “Gypsy,” “Putting It Together,” “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” “Cats,” “Phantom Of The Opera,” “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and more. [$8.99 monthly plan.] CLICK HERE for more information.
Met Opera: While closed, The Met will stream full-length archived performances. The “Nightly Met Opera Streams” will begin each evening at 7:30 pm EDT and will remain available via the homepage of metopera.org for 20 hours. The homepage link will open the performance on the Met Opera on Demand streaming service. The performance will also be viewable on all Met Opera on Demand apps. CLICK HERE for more information.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Whether you love the building’s famous architecture or the beautiful galleries, you’ll appreciate The Met’s series of YouTube videos of exhibit spaces in a 360-degree format. CLICK HERE for more information
Art Activities: Kids author and illustrator Mo Willems invites YOU into his studio every day for his LUNCH DOODLE. Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day. Weekdays | 1 PM EST CLICK HERE for more information
Smithsonian Natural History Museum. From extinct creatures to today’s hidden sealife, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History offers in-depth 360-degree views of its exhibits. CLICK HERE for more information.
Virtual Walkthrough: National Parks: Google’s “The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks” in partnership with the National Parks Services will bring the great outdoors to your living room. CLICK HERE for more information.
TINY DESK CONCERTS: NPR: Free collection of intimate video performances, recorded live at the desk of ‘ALL SONGS CONSIDERED’ host Bob Boilen. Includes Coldplay, Harry Styles, and more. CLICK HERE for more information.
