Can you believe we’ve been social distancing for two months now? Places and venues around Metro Vancouver are slowly adjusting to our physical absence and are hosting some of their events and resources online, publishing their curated resources digitally or hosting live events via video conferencing platforms like Zoom and BlueJeans. Check out the digital spaces of our local arts and culture establishments and show them you care with a donation if you can! One day, we will emerge from our isolation and see each other in person again! Stay safe everyone and have a great Victoria Day!
* * *
CAG at Home
www.contemporaryartgallery.ca/cag-at-home
The Contemporary Art Gallery has unveiled CAG at Home, a series of digital initiatives dedicated to bridging communities, gathering the public together and drawing people closer to contemporary art and artists. Three of their initiatives include art-making activities, which encourages patrons to create art inspired by the CAG exhibits; video tours, where CAG Curator Kimberly Phillips will discuss each of the works featured in current exhibitions in detail; and CAG Reads, a book club where artists invite patrons to read alongside them. For more details, check out the Gallery’s website.
* * *
The Cinematheque Virtual Screenings
The Cinematheque is a film institute and media education centre, located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, devoted to understanding the art and history of Canadian and international cinema and the impact of moving images and screen-based media in our lives. It has been a staple of the city since opening its doors in 1972 and is, along with many other sites, closed because of the coronavirus. In lieu of on-site shows, they have been offering virtual screenings to stream essential cinema to your computer. For a catalog of shows, please check out their website.
* * *
Digital ArtsClub
The Arts Club Theatre Company has released the Digital Arts Club, a content platform that allows patrons to stream videos, register for online workshops, watch behind-the-scenes content and more, all from the comfort of your own home. Twice every week, there will be an online performance from a local artist who has been affected by Arts Club closures due to coronavirus. Every Wednesday, there will be a Zoom workshop from one of the Arts Club instructors. Finally, the theatre will release behind-the-scenes footage of their productions and interviews with their artists on a regular basis.
* * *
(Virtual) explorASIAN 2020
May is Asian Heritage Month, but because of the coronavirus many in-person events have been cancelled. However, the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society has said explorASIAN 2020 is going virtual to celebrate explorASIAN art, culture and heritage and to stay connected through these difficult times. There will be virtual screenings, online conversations and digital lectures throughout the month. For more details, check out the virtual program on the explorASIAN website.
* * *
Flight of the Hummingbird Online Broadcast
The Flight of the Hummingbird brings a South-American Indigenous parable to the stage. | Photo courtesy of Vancouver Opera
May 19, 10 a.m.
The Vancouver Opera will be streaming The Flight of the Hummingbird on May 19. The performance is based on an Indigenous parable from the Quechuan people of South America. The story of the brave hummingbird travelled through pre-contact trade routes to become well known within Haida culture. The opera is influenced by the graphic novel written by acclaimed Haida artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas and includes elements of his dramatic Haida-manga illustrations. In it, the animals of the forest are inspired to come together by Dukdukdiya, the Hummingbird, to save their beautiful home from a raging fire.
* * *
Isolating Together – Museum of Vancouver
www.museumofvancouver.ca/isolating-together
There are many stories of isolation and connection happening around the world right now. Despite everything that’s happening, we are living through a moment in history that future generations will look back on to see how we lived through it. While the Museum of Vancouver is currently closed to exhibits of Vancouver past, create some history of Vancouver present with their hashtag #IsolatingTogetherMOV, where submissions will be accessioned into MOV’s virtual database and may be used for a future project such as a small exhibition, lobby projection or learning tool in their education department.
* * *
Science World: Dome at Home
www.scienceworld.ca/dome-at-home
What would Vancouver be without Science World and its iconic dome? While it has closed its doors, Science World has brought the dome home on its website, featuring some of their favourite scientific resources and at-home activities for the kids. Entertain the kids with making at home science experiments like air cannons, crystal trees and a solar panel. Catch some Omnimax films at home, stream some live scientific demonstrations and connect with out budding scientists around the city and the country.
* * *
Vancouver Digital Library 24/7
Like many other places, the Vancouver Public Library closed its doors to the multitude of physical books, media resources and in-person events in order to foster the social distance needed to help flatten the curve. To help compensate for the loss of physical offerings, the library has worked to increase their collection of e-books, digital audio books and online resources for all Vancouverites to enjoy. Look up family in the Ancestry Library, stream television from Acorn, access all the articles of the New York Times and more. All you need is your Vancouver Public Library card!
* * *
VIFF at Home
The Vancouver International Film Festival has teamed up with independent distributors to offer curated online streaming opportunities; it’s the chance to savour some of the movies, creator talks and in-depth conversations VIFF had planned to present at Vancity Theatre this spring in the safety of your own home. Check out films depicting life in post-war Leningrad, eccentric booksellers and supernatural comedy set in Ireland. For a complete list of films, check out the VIFF website.
* * *
VSO Digital Performances
www.vancouversymphony.ca/vso-digital-performances/
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra has cancelled its live performances until at least June, so in lieu of their live shows, they have been hosting digital performances and artist live chats. Have an at-home watch party of VSO’s Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5, Richard Strauss’ Serenade for Winds and Jacques Offenbach’s Movement de Valse, from Duo for Two Cellos.
