Yes, you can’t nip out to your favourite museum or art gallery nor peruse the shelves of your go-to bookshop for the foreseeable… BUT between the non-stop Netflix binge and intense kitchen creativity for every meal, there are ways to get that all-important cultural and creative respite in the form of visual arts and the written word.
Here’s a rundown of different ways to find artistic escapism you may be craving (from home):
Get your literary fix
1. Audible
Yup, in case you missed it, Audible has released hundreds of Audiobooks for free! Jump onto stories.audible.com to see which titles you can get listening to right now 👍
2. Borrow audiobooks and ebooks from your library online.
You may not be aware that you can borrow audiobooks just as you would physical books from your local library. Often, all you’ll need to do is download an app that allows you to borrow the titles and you’re away.
3. Open Library
Open Library is an online database of books that anyone can ‘borrow’. The goal is to “make all the published works of humankind available to everyone in the world” which right now seems pretty handy. Much of the works available are older titles that no longer carry copyright but there are a number of libraries that contribute more modern titles.
It’s 100% worth a look 👉 https://openlibrary.org/
4. Kindle Unlimited
Currently, everyone can get themselves a free month’s subscription to Kindle Unlimited but Amazon is now opening this up to three months free to Prime Members.
You get unlimited access to over a million ebook titles and thousands of audiobooks too. If you’re a Prime Member or not, definitely give this a look 👉Kindle Unlimited.
Virtual tours and online gallery exhibitions
1. Google Arts & Culture
Google has made visiting some of the most iconic museums and galleries in the world a possibility from your bedroom with an extensive creative project called Google Arts & Culture.
It’s an enormous feat of accessible art and culture that is not to be downplayed. With information and guides through collections of over 2000 museums worldwide you can visit the Guggenheim, The Natural History Museum, The Van Gogh Museum etc. etc. the list is literally neverending!
Explore the worlds greatest museums from your desktop here: Google Arts & Culture.
Or download the app to your device.
2. J Paul Getty Museum in LA
One of the most illustrious museums in America, the Getty is also a spectacular architectural specimen. You can explore the artwork in Google Arts & Culture but also get a feel for the museum itself via the xplorit virtual tour.
3. Vatican City
Vatican City has a great virtual tour platform online that takes you round seven of the world-famous spaces within the world’s smallest country.
On your lunch break why not gawk in awe and wonderment at the Sistine Chapel? Why not indeed. Do so here: Vatican Virtual Tour.
Well, there you have it. There’s plenty of artistic and cultural wonderment to break your routine of ‘eat, work, Netflix, sleep, repeat.’
Until next time, stay home, stay safe, stay sane everyone.