We are all wondering when this strange time is going to come to an end. The 21st Century’s humanity is facing a situation that it never thought it would have to; being aware that we’re all sharing the same world and that each one of us is playing an active role in the safety of one another. As I see a lot on social media : “it’s a time for self discovery, thinking and an opportunity to reconnect with our beloved ones that we often forget in our super connected society”. These might not be the exact words but it summarises pretty much the ‘feel-good’ thoughts that are shared on our screens these days. If we’re told to read books, to paint, to draw, play music or learn a new language… we will all agree that after almost 3 weeks in lockdown, we need something more.
Well, that’s where I’m here to help. Thanks to our “super connected” way of living that is often criticised, it’s time to see its utility and the remarkable opportunities it gives us. Trust me, with the help of the lockdown, it has never been so cheap and easy to adventure ourselves in the heart of the worldwide cultural world. Just for that, thank you coronavirus. But really, just for that.
Free Courses
Yes, I said we will not try to learn a new language or a new musical skill but here it’s different. You’ll learn cultural skills from the bests and for free.
- Nikon
If there’s not much to share on Instagram apart from videos from your neighbours clapping at 8pm or the carrot cake that you made but don’t even want to eat; it’s now time to anticipate the ‘after lockdown’. Yes, grab your phone or your camera (if you’re that good) and take free photography classes with Nikon. The classes are usually around 15 and 50 dollars. Here, you’ll get them for free. Yes I say it again because it’s a bargain. Each lesson is taught by a professional photographer. It shares in-depth classes to help you become a pro photographer. From Nikon targeted lessons, to ones teaching you how to photograph your pet or even make music videos, you’ll be able to get ready for your first “after lockdown” post.
https://www.nikonevents.com/us/live/nikon-school-online/
- MoMA
If you want to strengthen your skills in photography, the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) is sharing a course called “Seeing through photography”. Its aim: help your inner photographer to understand diverse types of photographic images. If you’re not into photography, a whole new cultural dimension opens its doors to you : from courses about Fashion and Design to Post-war paintings or even contemporary art, these online art courses are the key to your lockdown’s achievement and might even help you discover a new passion.
https://www.moma.org/research-and-learning/classes
Concert
Music is always a good way to escape. If going to an opera or an orchestra concert is often not our to-go evening night out because of its price, the lockdown’s magic made it possible. You will finally know if it could be your thing or not. But of course, other memorable shows are available online and could help you if it’s not.
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London Symphony Orchestra
Every Thursdays and Sundays, the remarkable London Symphony Orchestra plays for you. Transform your living room into a concert hall and turn on the show chosen from the London Symphony Orchestra’s archive and streamed on their YouTube channel. A good way to discover an often forgotten and underestimated cultural way to spend a night out (but in for now).
https://lso.co.uk/whats-on/2019-20-season/alwaysplaying.html
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The Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House has announced weeks of free digital content during the lockdown. The institution is sharing a range of musical masterclasses, broadcasts but most of all, classic ballet shows such as The Metamorphosis orThe Winter’s Tale. Put your classiest suit on and create your own opera house at home !
https://www.youtube.com/user/royaloperahouse
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Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival is one of the most famous Jazz Festival in the world. Its stage has welcomed legends of the groovy and soul world. However, because of the Covid-19, it is unsure that it could take place this summer and instead of releasing the line-up, the administrators have decided to share the best shows from the previous editions. From Ray Charles, Wu-Tang Clan to Nina Simone and Marvin Gaye, the music lovers will be thrilled.
In order to have access to it, you’ll have to put the promo code : FREEMJF1 to finalise your log in and then you’ll just have to choose your favourite artist to watch and relive it as it was live.
https://qello.com/browse/popular
Theatre
Just like concerts and opera, theatres are a place that are usually a bit more expensive than going to the cinema or have a drink with our friends and thus it is neglected. But now it the time to fix it.
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The Globe
Shakespeare readings can be found as boring. But this boredom, most of the time, comes from its difficulty to be properly understood. Now that you’re home, take the time to digest and process the language of Shakespeare to discover its beauty and truth in each word. With the help of The Globe, there’s no better way to discover or re-discover Shakespeare. From Hamlet to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Globe released 40 productions on its Globe Player service for free. To watch or not to watch, that is the question. (But I recommend you do)
https://www.youtube.com/user/ShakespearesGlobe
- National Theatre
The show must go on for the National Theatre. With the help of its actors and often sold-out plays; the London hub for national plays is streaming live performances every Thursdays at 7pm. If you’re busy at that time (Yes you can be, even in lockdown) the performance of the week will be available on demand for seven days on their YouTube channel.
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/nt-at-home
- Fleabag
I remember the euphoria around this play. The tickets were sold-out in less than an hour and it was impossible to put your hand on one. The triumphant stage show of Fleabag at Wyndham’s theatre, written and performed by outstanding Phoebe Waller-Bridge, is now here for you. From your couch. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s live performance in your house. So don’t think twice and stream it asap. Bonus: All the funds raised will go to those affected by the pandemic. It will for example, help raise money for the theatre workers in need during this time with charities including the National Emergencies Trust, NHS Charities Together and Acting for Others. The stage show is available for a two-week period in New Zealand, Australia, Canada as well as on Amazon Prime Video in the US and UK. This one is not free but is £4. Even if it might be the price of a pack of toilet paper rolls, it is much more a good spend, you won’t regret it.
Cinema
Netflix is probably the place where you spend most of your time during these days. Maybe it’s time to take a step back from the series that you’re binging without even enjoying and discover a new kind of cinematic experience. Here’s some ideas to help you do so.
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Viral Film Festival
Watching a film alone in your bed is good, but it can never be as good as watching it in theatres. To try and feel again the spirit shared in a communal screening, Viral Film Festival has created an innovative way to invite its audience. Everything is organised through their Instagram. They want you to share a worldwide mass-watching-screening. They pick the movie, advise you the perfect place to watch it and after that, they organise an interactive discussion on the latest film for everyone to share their opinion. It will not only make you discover new genres, directors and actors, but it will also reinforce your criticism. And as you know, Becrit encourages that more than anything. So rush to their Instagram page and follow the orders.
https://www.instagram.com/viralfilmfestival/
- Pandemic Film Club
Once again, this film club is seeking an audience through their Instagram page. Everything has been chosen in order to make you feel connected to other cinema lovers. As the creators explained to i-D : “We want to support those who are stuck at home, away from their loved ones, or facing financial uncertainty, so we share plenty of recommendations that are available to stream for free.” This is why you will find lists of movies that are available for free online but most of them are independent ones with ‘casting first-time actors’. However, you’ll also find classics such as Lady and the Trump, Sister Act or even Apocalyse Now. The lists curate a series of diverse movies reunited under different themes according to your mood. The Pandemic Club ask you to reward the film you think should ‘win’ the competition in the list. So if the Cannes Festival has been canceled, you can now create your own from home !
https://www.instagram.com/pandemicfilmclub/
- Zodiac Film Club
If this film club was meant to highlight horror movies, it seems they had to expand their selection to find a broader audience. Now, the Zodiac Film Club is celebrating “𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒎𝒔, 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒄 𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒂”. Their aim goes further than that: they think that by selecting movies available on smaller streaming websites, they help people to find a handful selection of pictures and not an endless one. This way, you’ll avoid scrolling for an hour and you’ll be confronted to less choices, an easier way to discover new films and let ourselves be tempted by more movies. As they said to i-D : “You watch what you’re given and you feel good about it”.
https://www.instagram.com/zodiacfilmclub/
Museums
Our days are becoming all similar, everyday is a Sunday and it’s becoming harder and harder to find an innovative daily activity. Well well, if you could go to a museum on the other side of the world for free would you go? Say no more, here’s a selection of the best virtual museum galleries available digitally.
- Uffizi Galleries, Florence, Italy
Italy is probably where a lot of people would like to spend some time right now with this weather. Unfortunately the country has been strongly attacked by the pandemic and is now one of the most touched nation in Europe… However, you can still support them by going there for an hour, a day or even a week! By visiting virtually the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, one of the most important artistic heritage in the world, it’s time to get to know Botticelli and Caravaggio. Google Maps gives you access to the 16th-century halls and all its unique Italian Renaissance gems. Andiamo!
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/uffizi-gallery
- Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France
The Musée d’Orsay in Paris is a to-go museum in the capital of love. If it used to be a railway station, it now curates the world’s largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist artworks. The queue is most of the time discouraging but now is the time to finally walk through its galleries by the Seine.
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/musee-dorsay-paris
- Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Netherlands is known for its numerous museums but the Rijksmuseum has become the most popular cultural institution. Its collection is dedicated to fine arts and local arts and craft. From Vermeer to Rembrandt, lose yourself in one of the most renown museum in the world with its virtual gallery tours.
https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/tours
- Natural History Museum, London, UK
If it looks like Harry Potter‘s Hogwarts school from the outside, it will entertain both young and old with its dinosaurs’ skeleton and its mummies. The Natural History Museum opened its galleries curating 80 million specimens coming from the evolution of nature and humankind. A must-see experience!
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/natural-history-museum
