The World at Your Fingertips
Prepared by Steve Walsh and Suzanne Matthew
U3A InfoGate will be updated and added to regularly. If you have any suggestions or comments please direct them to stevewalsh53@gmail.com.
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Online Courses
Talks and Lectures
Virtual Travel
Virtual Museums and Galleries
Virtual Performance
ONLINE COURSES
COURSERA
Learn something new https://www.coursera.org/
Coursera is partnered with universities around the world — including Imperial College London and Stanford. It also partners with companies including Google and IBM to offer expertise in specific areas — for example, machine learning. The provider has made headlines by making its entire catalogue of 3,800 online courses free to universities throughout the global coronavirus outbreak. But Coursera also offers over 1,000 normally free courses across a wide range of subjects. Whether it’s Social Media Marketing, an Introduction to Psychology, or Graphic Design there’s plenty of choice. The company’s online courses cover 11 subject areas across beginner, intermediate, mixed and advanced levels.
EdX partners with universities from around the world — such as Harvard and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) It doesn’t have as many courses available as Coursera, with it stating it has over 2,500 compared to Coursera’s 3,800. But Edx does have a slightly different focus: natural sciences and the humanities make up the key courses offered. Popular subject areas are the languages and computer science. Edx courses are generally free (to watch videos and take part in topic discussions), but professional courses come with a cost. Courses often have a fee attached to any certificate achieved by completing a course.
FUTURE LEARN
https://www.futurelearn.com/
Future Learn is part-owned by The Open University and offers a clear divide in its courses, between short courses, ‘microcredentials’, and online degrees. Its short courses are its free online courses, providing no-cost access with a cost only attached to printable digital certificates. Costs for the certificates depend on the course but can be quite affordable compared to other online course providers – starting from around $AU100. Popular Future Learn courses change frequently, but the 14 subject areas provide a good range of options for quick or longer study. Subject areas are diverse, including creative arts and media, healthcare and medicine, teaching, science and engineering, and maths.
Udemy is an online learning platform with the feel of a marketplace. There’s a huge number of free online courses on offer, and 100,000 courses available in total on Udemy’s platform. Udemy encourages users to search for their course with a prominent search box, and the platform feels less formal than others. Courses are run by experts rather than through direct association with universities. But the range of courses and clear course reviews from users are both positives for Udemy. The platform even offers occasional sales, dropping the price of courses with huge discounts — so you might find a course usually over £100 drop to just over $AU12.
The free courses on Udemy can be found at UDEMY FREE — https://www.udemy.com/courses/free/
OPENLEARN
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/
The Open University is one of the most well-known online course providers. Open Learn is its platform dedicated to providing nothing but free online courses. Open Learn has almost 1,000 free courses to choose from, and divides them by type, level and resource length. You can choose from e‑books, badged courses and ‘lunchtime learning’. And there are three levels: introductory, intermediate and advanced. Course lengths range from 1–3 hours to over 24 hours in total, but are limited in topic. Childhood, youth and early years courses are a focus, as are education, learning and working with young people.
TALKS AND LECTURES
TED
https://www.ted.com/Ideas worth spreading
TED is a nonpartisan non-profit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks. TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 110 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.
SEARCH TED TALKS — https://www.ted.com/talks
TED RECOMMENDS — https://www.ted.com/recommends
TED CONNECTS — https://www.ted.com/about/programs-initiatives/ted-connects-community-hope
As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the globe, it’s hard to know where to turn or what to think. TED Connects is a free, live, daily conversation series featuring experts whose ideas can help us reflect and work through this uncertain time with a sense of responsibility, compassion and wisdom.
CURATED TED TALKS
5 TED Talks That Will Help You Manage Anxiety and Build Resilience
https://www.inc.com/betsy-mikel/5‑ted-talks-that-will-help-you-manage-anxiety-build-resilience.html
10 Inspirational TED Talks Perfect for Anyone Having a Rough Day
https://www.themuse.com/advice/10-inspirational-ted-talks-perfect-for-anyone-having-a-rough-day
15 TED Talks That Will Change Your Life
https://mashable.com/2013/07/08/ted-talks-change-your-life/
20 Most Inspiring TED Talks of All Time That You Should Not Miss
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/20-most-inspiring-ted-talks-all-time-that-you-should-not-miss.html
VIRTUAL MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES
International
THE GOOGLE ART PROJECT
https://artsandculture.google.com/
Google Arts & Culture is an online platform through which the public can access high-resolution images of artworks housed in the initiative’s partner museums. The project was launched on 1 February 2011 by Google through its Google Cultural Institute initiative, in cooperation with 17 international museums, including the Tate Gallery, London; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City; and the Uffizi, Florence.
Asia
STATE HERMITAGE MUSEUM, ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
If you have five hours to spare, check out this one-take video journey (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49YeFsx1rIw) through the second-largest museum in the world. The museum houses some three million art and culture artefacts, including paintings by 17th century Dutch artist Rembrandt, such as “The Return of the Prodigal Son.”
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART, SEOUL
https://www.mmca.go.kr/eng/
There are several sites making up this museum: the main gallery in Gwacheon and branches in Deoksugung, Seoul and Cheongju. The virtual tours (https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/national-museum-of-modern-and-contemporary-art-korea) explore an inspiring mix of print, design, sculpture, photography, new media and other large-scale installations. From Joseph Beuys to Warhol and Nam June Paik, the collection includes an international line-up of established artists, contemporary Korean artworks and emerging names.
NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM, TAIPEI CITY
https://tech2.npm.edu.tw/720vr/museumen/views.html
Go on a treasure hunt in Taiwan’s National Palace Museum, home to a massive collection of Chinese arts and crafts from the Neolithic to the modern era. Choose from a selection of guided tours and click on anything that piques your interest as you mooch around.
Australia
NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE
https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/channel/
Like most museums around the world, the National Gallery of Victoria has temporarily closed its doors. But those who missed out on its big-hitting ‘Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines’ show (plus other curious art fans around the world) are in luck: the exhibition is now available as a free virtual tour led by the curator.
Europe
VATICAN MUSEUMS, ROME http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/tour-virtuali-elenco.1.html
The Vatican Museums (Italian: Musei Vaticani; Latin: Musea Vaticana) are the public art and sculpture museums in the Vatican City. They display works from the immense collection amassed by the Roman Catholic Church and the Papacy throughout the centuries including several of the most renowned Roman sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world. The museums contain roughly 70,000 works, of which 20,000 are on display.
BENAKI MUSEUM, ATHENS
https://www.benaki.org/index.php?lang=en
Take a virtual wander through ancient Greece with the Benaki Museum’s 360-degree tour. It’s easy to get lost in their unrivalled collection of artefacts – from ancient fertility statues to gilded Byzantine paintings – with some dating back as far as 6500BC.
GUGGENHEIM, BILBAO
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/guggenheim-bilbao
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao’s mission is to collect, preserve, and research into modern and contemporary works of art and to present them in their historical context, offering audiences of every age and type a chance to discover the art of our time.
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, LONDON
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/virtual-museum.html
Delve into the Museum from home with a virtual self-guided tour of the galleries, an interactive experience about Hope the blue whale and audio guides narrated by Sir David Attenborough.
Interactive online guide: https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/natural-history-museum
TATE MODERN, LONDON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjgAd6Z-dd0&feature=emb_title
The lord giveth and he taketh away. At least, that’s what happened when the Andy Warhol retrospective opened at Tate Modern on March 12, before swiftly closing on March 17 thanks to lockdown measures ramping up in London. Well, now the lord giveth back again: the Tate has made a virtual tour of the show available on its YouTube channel and website.
RIJKSMUSEUM, AMSTERDAM
https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en
This grand museum has a vast collection of art and historical objects across 80 galleries. A 10-year renovation project was completed in 2013, transforming the space and combining elements of 19th-century grandeur with modern lighting and a new glass-roofed atrium. The interactive tour (https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/rijksmuseum) helps viewers get up close to every brush stroke by Vermeer, Rembrandt and other Dutch masters while exploring the Great Hall and beyond.
THYSSEN-BORNEMISZA MUSEUM, MADRID
https://www.museothyssen.org/en
Head to the Thyssen-Bornemisza’s website and you can stroll around all of its public galleries. Don’t miss recent hit exhibition ‘Rembrandt and Amsterdam portraiture, 1590–1670’ – an impressive collection of 80 paintings never before seen in Spain. The other institutions that make up Madrid’s ‘Golden Triangle’, the Prado and Reina Sofía, are also offering virtual tours.
PERGAMON MUSEUM, BERLIN
https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/pergamon/m05tcm?hl=en
Pergamon is one of the largest museums in Germany; therefore, it has a whole lot to offer. This historical museum houses plenty of ancient artifacts such as the famous Ishtar Gate of Babylon and, naturally, the Pergamon Altar.
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THE DALÍ THEATRE-MUSEUM
https://www.salvador-dali.org/en/museums/dali-theatre-museum-in-figueres/visita-virtual/
Located in the town of Figueres in Catalonia, Spain, the Dalí Theatre-Museum is completely dedicated to the artwork of Salvador Dalí. It features many rooms and exhibits surrounding every era of Dalí’s life and career, and the artist himself is buried here. The museum offers virtual tours of the grounds and a few exhibits.
VAN GOGH MUSEUM, AMSTERDAM
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/van-gogh-museum?hl=en
You can see the works of this ingenious painter up close by stepping into this virtual museum which is home to the largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh. The collection includes over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and over 750 personal letters.
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MUSÉE D’ORSAY, PARIS
https://m.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html
In the former Gare d’Orsay, a Paris railway station and hotel, the musée is home to Cézanne, Monet and other French masters. Under a 138m-long curved glass roof, sits the largest collection of impressionist and post-Impressionist works in the world. The virtual tour (https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/musee-dorsay-paris) also includes an online exhibition charting the history of the building. And over on Tourist Tube there’s a 360-degree view (https://www.touristtube.com/Things-to-do-in-Paris/Musee-d-Orsay-360) of the magnificent exterior.
THE LOUVRE
http://www.louvre.fr/en
The Louvre is not only one of the world’s largest art museums, but it’s also one of Paris’s most iconic historic monuments. The museum offers free online tours (http://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne#tabs) of some of its most important and popular exhibits, such as its Egyptian Antiquities and works from Michelangelo. You can take a 360-degree look at the museum, and click around the rare artifacts to get additional information on their histories.
UFFIZI GALLERY, FLORENCE
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/uffizi-gallery?hl=en
This gallery in Florence, Italy is home to the art collection of one of the city’s most famous families—the de’Medicis. Now, anyone can wander through its fancy halls designed by Giorgio Vasari specifically for Cosimo I de’Medici back in 1560.
PICASSO MUSEUM, BARCELONA
http://courtyard.museupicassobcn.org/
As well as a vast online catalogue of Pablo’s best bits, this temple to all things Picasso offers a 360-degree tour of some of the best-preserved Medieval architecture in Barcelona. When you’re done snooping around the building, check out their Twitter hashtag #MuseuPicassoVirtual to break up your newsfeed with daily doses of art.
BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON
https://www.britishmuseum.org/
There are 3,212 panes of glass in the domed ceiling of the British Museum’s Great Court, and no two are the same – and the 360-degree view in this virtual tour lets viewers examine each and every one. Beyond this magnificent space, viewers can find the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies and other ancient wonders. The museum’s interactive infographic platform, History Connected, goes into further depth of various objects with curators, along a timeline.
NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
A backdrop to London’s four lions in Trafalgar Square, the National is home to 2,300 publicly-owned paintings, watercolours, drawings and other European art from the 13th to the mid-20th century. There are seven exhibition spaces of Renaissance art and the Central Hall to explore in its 360-view virtual touring pages, from portraits to large dramatic altarpieces.
North America
J PAUL GETTY MUSEUM, LOS ANGELES
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-j-paul-getty-museum?hl=en
The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center features works of art dating from the eighth through the twenty-first century, showcased against a backdrop of dramatic architecture, tranquil gardens, and breathtaking views of Los Angeles. The collection includes European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European, Asian, and American photographs.
SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, WASHINGTON D.C.
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/national-portrait-gallery
The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery tells the history of America through individuals who have shaped its culture. Through the visual arts, performing arts and new media, the Portrait Gallery portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists whose lives tell the American story.
MUSEUM OF BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS, ZAGREB AND LOS ANGELES https://brokenships.com/explore
Museum of Broken Relationships is a physical and virtual public space created with the sole purpose of treasuring and sharing your heartbreak stories and symbolic possessions. It is a museum about you, about us, about the ways we love and lose.
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM, NEW YORK
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/solomon-r-guggenheim-museum?hl=en
An internationally renowned art museum and one of the most significant architectural icons of the 20th century, the Guggenheim Museum in New York is at once a vital cultural centre, an educational institution, and the heart of an international network of museums. Visitors can experience special exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, lectures by artists and critics, performances and film screenings, classes for teens and adults, and daily tours of the galleries led by museum educators. Founded on a collection of early modern masterpieces, the Guggenheim Museum today is an ever-evolving institution devoted to the art of the 20th century and beyond.
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, NEW YORK
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/moma-the-museum-of-modern-art
Forever at the forefront, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is not only devoted to presenting the best in contemporary art, but also to promoting the understanding of modern art and expanding the definition of what is considered art in the first place. Whether it’s showing you something you’ve never seen before, or showing you how to see something familiar in a new way, MoMA is always an eye- and mind-opening experience.
ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-art-institute-of-chicago?hl=en
The Art Institute of Chicago is a world-renowned art museum housing one of the largest permanent collections in the United States. An encyclopaedic museum, the Art Institute collects, preserves, and displays works in every medium from all cultures and historical periods as well as hosts special exhibitions.
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, WASHINGTON, D.C. https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/national-gallery-of-art-washington-dc?hl=en
The National Gallery of Art, founded as a gift to the nation, serves as a centre of visual art, education, and culture. Our collection of more than 150,000 paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, photographs, prints, and drawings spans the history of Western art and showcases some of the triumphs of human creativity.
SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
The world’s most popular natural history museum is dedicated to understanding the natural world and our place in it. Delve into the fascinating story of our planet, from its fiery beginnings through billions of years of transformation, and explore life on Earth through exhibitions and activities, collection objects and research that happens in the lab and in the field. The museum is larger than 18 football fields and is home to the largest natural history collection in the world.
NASA
NASA offers free virtual tours of the Langley Research Center (https://oh.larc.nasa.gov/oh/) in Virginia, as well as of Ohio’s Glenn Research Center (https://www.nasa.gov/glennvirtualtours). The Space Center Houston also has an app (https://spacecenter.org/news-center/news-releases/space-center-houstons-new-app-offers-an-enhanced-visitor-experience/) that provides virtual tours, augmented reality experiences, and videos and audio stories about space exploration.
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Virtual-Tour/
The National Museum of the United States Air Force is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 6 miles northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world, with more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display. The museum draws about a million visitors each year, making it one of the most frequently visited tourist attractions in Ohio.
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
https://www. metmuseum.org/art/online-features
The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in three iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue, The Met Breuer, and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online. Since it was founded in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. Every day, art comes alive in the Museum’s galleries and through its exhibitions and events, revealing both new ideas and unexpected connections across time and across cultures.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY, MEXICO CITY (https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-national-museum-of-anthropology-mexico-city-ziko-van-dijk-wikimedia-commons/bAGSHRdlzSRcdQ?hl=en)
The National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City – devoted to the archaeology and history of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic civilisations. It was inaugurated in 1964 and designed by Mexican architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez.
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South America
MASP, SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL
https://masp.org.br/en
The Museu de Arte de São Paulo has one of the broadest historical collections available to view via its virtual gallery platform, spanning from the 14th to 20th centuries. Paintings appear suspended in the air around the open-plan space, on glass panels or “crystal easels” as the museum calls them. There’s also a temporary retrospective exhibition by Brazilian pop artist Teresinha Soares beside the building’s statement red staircase. The glass and red-beam structure, built in 1968, is worth a look from the outside too, via Google Street View.
VIRTUAL TRAVEL
Asia
JAPANESE CHERRY BLOSSOM GARDEN
http://secure.panoramic.graphics/publicvr/shukkeien/
The four-hundred-year-old Shukkeien Garden in Hiroshima is allowing people to take a virtual stroll inside their intricately designed space, filled with lush greenery, winding paths, and quaint bridges. Walk across the Koko-kyo Bridge, meditate next to bonsais and koi ponds, explore the picturesque cherry blossoms, and “sit” on tatami flooring inside the Seifukan Tea House with sprawling floor-to-ceiling views.
MOUNT EVEREST
Known in Nepali as Sagarmatha and Tibetan as Chomolungma, the world’s highest peak sits on the border between Nepal and China. Explore Everest’s south base camp (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/about/behind-the-scenes/streetview/treks/the-worlds-highest-peaks/) in Nepal, at an altitude of 5,380 metres, with interactive 360-degree views of snowy peaks and colourful prayer flags. Via an interactive map, and a 3D rotating viewer, you can gaze at the 8,848-metre summit, plus other Himalayan peaks stretching west into Pakistan and east to Bhutan. Clicking the human-shaped icon on this page highlights all the points around the mountain range that can be explored further at ground level. Views from other peaks, including over the Imja River and mountain villages, are visible in these 360-degree images. There’s also shot of a busier south base camp – it sees about 35,000 visitors a year, after all.
Europe
PARIS CATACOMBS
http://catacombes.paris.fr/visite-virtuelle/
The infamous catacombs have been the inspiration for many horror movies, and it’s not hard to see why. The network of subterranean tunnels is lined with human corpses from over six million Parisians. If your Europe trip was cancelled—or you haven’t been able to pluck up the courage to go underground—this virtual tour is a good way to ease into the mysterious territory. Fair warning: even if it’s virtual, this experience is not for the squeamish.
PALACE OF VERSAILLES
https://artsandculture.google.com/project/versailles
Perhaps the most impressive virtual tour of the bunch, Google Arts & Culture has curated a truly comprehensive collection from the Palace of Versailles — the famous home of Louis XIV, the Sun King. Not only can you enjoy a video tour of the palace itself (or stream it on VR), Google Arts & Culture has also rounded up some of the best artworks and artifacts in the palace, you can go inside the famous Hall of Mirrors, walk the extensive gardens, and even find some never-before-seen content.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/step-inside-the-exhibition-in-the-buckingham-palace-state-rooms/mwIiCOcgzC0dIQ?hl=en
Much like visiting the actual Buckingham Palace, only certain parts are accessible to the public online. Google Arts & Culture has created a thorough virtual tour of the Buckingham Palace State Rooms, complete with dozens of beautiful gowns from famous designers. The reception was originally held during London Fashion Week in 2018, and now it’s online for you to enjoy.
EDINBURGH CASTLE
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/VAWxcB3PgVhOvw
If you’ve been hoping to visit some of the historic castles of Scotland, Edinburgh is a great place to start. This ancient fortress is perched atop of Castle Rock, looking over the capital of Edinburgh in real life, and now you can experience a walk through its famous grounds from the comfort of your couch.
SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE
https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/schloss-schoenbrunn
Schönbrunn Palace is one of Austria’s most visited sites, and now it’s going to be even more popular with virtual tourists around the world. This World Heritage Site, located in Hietzing, Vienna, was the summer palace for many of the Hapsburg rulers. Not only can you get a good look at some of the most famous artworks in the palace, you can also take a walking tour via Street View.
CATHERINE PALACE
https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/catherine-palace/m038dxx
This particular tour doesn’t have art collections or indoor tours, but you can still virtually view one of the best attributes of this historic Russian palace in St. Petersburg: the palace’s gorgeous blue, white, and gold facade. This Rococo palace was once the summer home of Catherine the Great, one of the most famous Russian rulers. Take a look via Street View.
ROYAL PALACE OF CASERTA
https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/royal-palace-of-caserta/m03fhjg
This historic Italian palace was once the home of the King of Naples and is one of the largest palaces erected in Europe during the 18th century. It’s also one of the largest royal residences in the world. This collection includes some photos of the castle plus several Street View tours of both the exterior and interior of the palace.
North America
WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE
https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/video-tour/
The notorious Winchester mansion, formerly owned by Sarah Winchester, is allegedly one of the most haunted sites in the world. That being said, no spirits can be seen in this virtual tour. However, people who partake will certainly feel the spooky vibe with its over 200 dizzying rooms, 10,000 windows, trap doors, spy holes, and a whole host of other architectural oddities.
THE WHITE HOUSE
https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/virtual-tour-of-the-art-and-decor-of-the-white-house-the-state-floor/IgLCMr3Z9lSjLw
Thanks to Google Arts and Culture, you can enjoy a walk through the most famous residence in the U.S. online. Yep, the White House is offering a peek inside its walls, including the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the Vice President’s Ceremonial Office, the Secretary of War suite, and the library. Once you’re done perusing the historical artwork housed inside (coupled with interesting historical facts about everything you see), wrap up your experience by standing outside on the White House lawn.
THE GRAND CANYON, USA
At 277 miles in length, 18 miles across at its widest, and a maximum 1,857 metres deep, this vast Arizona landmark is grand in nature as well as name. Around 40 sedimentary layers are visible in its steep cliffs, with the oldest basement rocks formed around two billion years ago. Hike the canyon’s Bright Angel Trail via a Google Street View Trek (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/about/behind-the-scenes/streetview/treks/grand-canyon/). One of the most popular long-distance routes in the national park (9.3 miles), it zigzags up from the Colorado River to the south rim. Like with other entries in the list, wider exploration is on offer with Google Earth view (https://earth.google.com/web/@36.10173086,-112.11308476,834.89750692a,9723.10009192d,35y,12.57001216h,60.0036245t,0r/data=Cl0aWxJVCiUweDg3MzMxMmFlNzU5YjRkMTU6MHgxZjM4YTliZWM5OTEyMDI5GbHnIQmxDUJAIYiim1g7B1zAKhpHcmFuZCBDYW55b24gTmF0aW9uYWwgUGFyaxgBIAE), which lets users zoom in and out and click into points of interest – the peaks of Wontons Throne or Angels Window, for example – for further information. Another VR project, AirPano (https://www.airpano.com/360photo/Grand_Canyon_USA/), has high-definition 360-degree images for a bird’s eye view of the Red Rocks.
VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE
International
MARQUE TV
https://www.marquee.tv/
An on-demand streaming service offering a 30-day free trial where you can choose from options like Akram Khan’s Giselle performed by the English National Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet’s A Swan Lake, countless offerings from The Royal Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, American Masters, and many ballet- and dance-themed documentaries.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/cirqueconnect
The awe-inspiring circus company Cirque du Soleil is streaming exclusive footage every Friday on its new platform CirqueConnect. Currently, fans can gasp at the hour-long special featuring performances from Cirque du Soleil Amaluna, VOLTA and Bazzar.
RADIOHEAD
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq19-LqvG35A-30oyAiPiqA
The band will be posting weekly classic concert videos to their YouTube channel, starting on Thursday 9th April at 10pm BST (5pm ET) with the broadcast of Live from a Tent in Dublin, a gig from 7th October, 2000.
THE SHOWS MUST GO ON
https://www.youtube.com/theshowsmustgoon
Free West End and Broadway musicals? Sounds good to us. Andrew Lloyd Webber will be streaming his musicals for free online in a new series entitled “The Shows Must Go On”. It’s Jesus Christ Superstar with Tim Minchin this week, which will go live on YouTube on Friday 3rd April at 7pm. It will be available for 48 hours. And there will be a new show every week.
METALLICA
https://www.youtube.com/user/MetallicaTV/videos
Rock Gods Metallica have launched a new concert series, #MetallicaMondays, which will see the band stream a complete Metallica live show on the group’s YouTube channel and on Facebook every week. They start at 8pm (EDT) every Friday.
THIRD MAN RECORDS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7RgzD6Mf1I&t=2s
Jack White’s Third Man Records is always quick to innovate, and the label has already hosted the first of what will be daily live performances for its Third Man Public Access series. Episode 1 featured Luke Schneider and is still available to view on YouTube. Venmo and PayPal options will accompany each show as a way for fans to support the performers.
A LIST OF LIVE VIRTUAL CONCERTS
https://www.npr.org/2020/03/17/816504058/a‑list-of-live-virtual-concerts-to-watch-during-the-coronavirus-shutdown
As more festivals, performances and concerts are cancelled due to the coronavirus shutdown, musicians of all stripes and sizes are taking to social and streaming platforms to play live for their fans.
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Australia
AUSTRALIA’S CONCERT HALL
https://www.abc.net.au/classic/events/australias-concert-hall/12070098
The ABC is working with Australian musicians to bring you a selection of concerts and livestreams right here in Australia’s Concert Hall. Listen or watch them all here, and tune in to ABC Classic every day at 1pm for full concert broadcasts.
AUSTRALIAN BALLET DIGITAL SEASON
https://australianballet.com.au/the-ballets/digital-season
Ballet TV digital season will beam our premium-quality productions right to your couch for free. AB have hand-picked a selection of their most beloved and inspiring ballets, and each will have a limited two-week season on our streaming platform, Ballet TV. Absolutely free! They’ve kicked off their Digital Season with the luminous extravaganza that is David McAllister’s production of The Sleeping Beauty, with Orchestra Victoria performing Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score.
MELBOURNE DIGITAL CONCERT HALL
http://melbournedigitalconcerthall.com/
MDCH is designed to support musicians and the Melbourne arts industry during these challenging times. Concerts will be performed once, at set times as per traditional recitals, and will be professionally streamed. Tickets are sold online for the performance and all ticket money goes directly to the artists. Tickets can be purchased online for $20 per performance and will enable you to watch your concert live.
Europe
BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER
https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/concerts
Classic music lovers rejoice! There are over 600 free orchestral concerts from the Berliner Philharmoniker in the Digital Concert Hall from more than ten years, including 15 concerts with the new chief conductor Kirill Petrenko. There are also bonus videos from behind the scenes: documentaries on the history of the orchestra, portraits of conductors and orchestra members, and projects from our education programme. A place where you can stay connected to the Berliner Philharmoniker and their music! A wide selection of films (https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/films) can found too.
There is also a calendar of free live concerts (https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/live).
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
https://www.roh.org.uk/
London’s Royal Opera House is streaming on its Facebook page and YouTube channel, bringing ballet and opera to the masses every Friday for a month. On April 10, check out Così fan tutte, on April 17 you can stream The Metamorphosis, April 24 is Gloriana, and May 1 is Royal Ballet’s The Winter’s Tale.
ROYAL ALBERT HALL
https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/series/royal-albert-home
A series of Royal Albert Home performances over the coming days and weeks, which will see “artists sharing their work from their homes to yours”. The free streaming programme already includes Rufus Wainwright, Peter Gregson, Brassed Off and many more, with the promise of more to be announced. You can also donate to the Hall to show your support.
NATIONAL THEATRE
https://www.youtube.com/user/ntdiscovertheatre
The National Theatre has announced #NationalTheatreAtHome, which will see some of the best British theatre delivered at 7pm (BST) every Thursday on YouTube. It began with James Corden in One Man Two Guvnors on 2nd April, which you can still watch back, and we have Jane Eyre to look forward to on Thursday 9th April.
SADLER’S WELLS
https://www.facebook.com/SadlersWells/
In a similar vein, Sadler’s Wells is offering full-length dance performances and workshops online. The programme broadcasts every Friday at 7.30pm (BST) and this week it’s Rain, the seminal work of choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and her company Rosas. You will be able to watch performances back for seven days via the company’s Facebook page.
WIENER STAATSOPER
https://www.staatsoperlive.com/
How about world class opera and ballet for free, from the comfort of your favourite chair? Vienna State Opera is now opening its livestream archives. Wiener Staatsoper will broadcast Live at Home recordings of previous opera and ballet performances daily via its streaming platform. Streams start at 5pm or 7pm (CET), which is line with the opera house’s usual performances, and they will remain available for 24 hours.
THE BOLSHOI BALLET
https://www.youtube.com/user/bolshoi
The Moscow company is streaming full performances of iconic shows like The Nutcracker on the official YouTube channel for free. Each performance is uploaded each day and remain on the theatre’s channel for 24 hours.
North America
ALL ARTS
https://allarts.org/programs/
All Arts is breaking new ground as the premier destination for inspiration, creativity and art of all forms. This new arts and culture hub are created by WNET, the parent company of New York’s PBS stations. Free content across dance, film, music, theatre, visual arts and literature.
ALVIN AILEY
https://www.alvinailey.org/performances-tickets/ailey-all-access
The legendary Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Theater is offering a new program, Ailey All Access, where for a limited time, fans can stream full length videos of the Company performing on stage. The current featured performance is Ailey II in Yannick Lebrun’s Saa Magni and Bradley Shelver’s Where There Are Tongues. Beginning April 9, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Judith Jamison’s Divining will be available online. Check out all the other available programs here.
NEIL YOUNG
https://neilyoungarchives.com/news/4/article?id=Subscriber-Fireside-Sessions-to-stream-from-NYA
Neil Young is keeping it in the family with his Fireside Sessions — his wife will be filming while he gives a live concert from his living room, presumably by the fire. It looks like his dogs could feature heavily, too. Young is promising a “down-home production, a few songs, a little time together”.
BOILER ROOM
https://www.facebook.com/boilerroom.tv/
One of the original names in live streaming is well-prepared for entertaining in isolation and has been quick to pull together a Streaming from Isolation series of broadcasts. Look out for regular live shows and classic sets from previous years. Your virtual club night, then.