Going to the cinema or spending your weekend wandering around pretty art galleries might be off the cards right now – but that doesn’t mean you have to let your love for culture fall by the wayside! No matter where your interests lie, there are plenty of ways you can soak up all forms of art from the comfort of your very own home. Whether it’s getting up close and personal with some of the worlds most impressive painted masterpieces, perusing Vogue Italia‘s entire fashion archive for free or exploring a different kind of local market, you just need to know where to look…
If you like going to the cinema…
We should all thank our lucky stars for streaming services. Between Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Starzplay and every other platform out there, you’re bound to find a programme or film that takes your fancy. Not to mention, Disney+ launched this week so you can now catch over 500 films, more than 350 series and 26 exclusive Disney+ Originals on there too! We’re talking all your old favourites like Lizzie McGuire and Hannah Montana to new soon-to-be classics like The World According To Jeff Goldblum.
Plus, if you’re feeling down about all the film festivals that have been cancelled, don’t despair. After SXSW Film Festival was called off this year, streaming service Stage32 pledged to screen the new films on their service to filmmakers, industry creatives and the public from April! Since their announcement, the site has received over 35 submissions from SXSW entrants and over 700 from filmmakers who were supposed to screen their films elsewhere. So, watch this space and you could get to see some of the latest Hollywood hits very soon.
If you like hanging out at art galleries…
You no longer need to go to a gallery to gaze at some major artworks, you can do it all virtually. Using Google Arts & Culture, you can explore over 500 global collections and use the high-definition Art Camera to zoom in on pieces from the likes of Vincent Van Gogh and Gustav Klimt. Or step inside museums and landmarks like the Taj Mahal or the Museo Frida Kahlo with the Street View feature. That’s not all – lots of other museums offer similar features too. On the British Library website you can get a glimpse into all their exhibitions online – from their Alice in Wonderland exhibition which explores how the classic tale has been re-imagined over the last 150 years to the History of Magic which takes to you to where magic and myth began.
Alternatively, if you’re in the mood for something new, why not commission your own art? There are lots of young artists on Instagram who cater to all different styles, whether that’s graphic cartoons or minimalist figure drawings. There’s nothing better than receiving an original piece of art and supporting a local creative in the process.
If you like going to gigs…
With gigs, concerts and music festivals alike all being called off, artists from around the world have taken to Instagram to get their new music out there. On a daily basis there’s a slew of big names playing hits live via the platform including Coldplay, Pink, Camilla Cabello and Shawn Mendes. Our favourite so far has got to be John Legend featuring his wife Chrissy Teigen sporting a towel turban and draped over the piano. Coming up, we have Charli XCX’s “Self-Isolation IG Livestream” (Friday, March 27th at 12:00 p.m. EST) and Miley Cyrus’ “Bright Minded: Live” (Friday, March 27th 2:30 p.m. EST) as well as many more which are constantly being updated on websites like this.
If you like exploring local markets…
You never know what kind of gems you’re going to stumble upon in local craft markets or car boot sales and the same could be said about certain pockets of the internet. Consider Etsy like the local arts, crafts and home-ware bazaar of the digital world. With everything from personalised plant pots to unusual home decor on offer, we could browse their seemingly infinite collection of original creations forever. Plus, if all these unique ideas are giving you the creative itch, you could always browse their craft supplies section and have a go at making something yourself!
If you like indulging in culinary creations…
With lots of time on our hands and the arrival of spring causing us to crave a whole new array of fresh food dishes, there’s never been a better time to get creative in the kitchen. If you’re looking for some new, nourishing and unique recipes to try out, Instagram is always a great place to start. Check out these 7 inspiring food accounts that we’re currently loving. Alternatively, you could always use a good old fashioned recipe book – there will always be something that suits your tastes whether it’s The Mindful Kitchen – a part practical, part meditative book that offers an abundant feast of vegetarian recipes – or the Dishoom Cookbook which is full of Bombay comfort food from the popular London restaurant.
If you like fashion and design…
Good news for fashion lovers! Condé Nast Italy has just announced that readers can now access the entire Vogue Italia archive completely free of charge for three months! If you don’t already know, it’s a digital fashion archive which features the entire history of the magazine including features, photography, articles, advertising campaigns and so much more. To access this treasure trove of fashion and design goodness, all you need to do is visit http://archivio.vogue.it/, select the option for the full archive yearly subscription when prompted and use the promotional code VARCHIVE4YOU when registering your account. You’re welcome!
If you like to support sporting events…
With it looking like everything, including the Tokyo Olympic Games, is going to be postponed this year, there aren’t too many new sporting events coming up over the next few weeks. However, you can always get involved in some sport yourself! Just like musicians, so many young fitness coaches are streaming their sessions via Instagram or YouTube now so you could try to give one of these a go. Joe Wicks – otherwise known as the Body Coach – has made waves with his daily 9am PE session. Since it was started as an initiative for the kids who are being home schooled at the moment, it’s essentially a HIIT workout that all levels can participate in. Over two million people across the UK are tuning in daily, so getting involved will make you feel like part of a much bigger community!
Want more ideas of what to do this weekend? Discover 7 activities to do at home inspired by your favourite TV shows…
