Art From a Distance

A resource list in-progress to help those of us self-isolating, in quarantine, staying home, with cancelled work, wondering ”what now”?

The focus of this list is consuming & creating art.

(It does contain links to some truly fantastic lists others have created to help artists & freelancers get through this financially.)

Please feel free to share.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a living document based in Canada and will be updated/added to as resources are discovered. If you’d like to add a resource or have any recommendations, please comment or email me at theatrestatistics@gmail.com and I’ll add it ASAP!

Yellow highlight: live event times

Bolded text: recurring event times

Green highlight: deadlines

Contents

Sharing & Creating Art

Dance

Film

Music

Performance

Visual

Writing

Creation for Kids

Consuming & Watching Art

Dance

Film

Music

Opera

Theatre/Variety

One-Time/Limited Access

Ongoing

Recorded

Visual

Writing

Freelance Resources

Education

General

Art-specific

Self-Care

Mental Health

Meditation

Animals

Other Nice Things

General Resources

Worried about the Virus?

Sharing & Creating Art

The Social Distancing Festival - Toronto, ON: “a site for celebrating work that has been cancelled/delayed/disrupted, or to showcase work that’s being done by the many artists who suddenly have extra time for creation, and may be spending a bunch of time alone at home”

Dance

  • Ballet Nova Live - Virginia, US: Offering free live streamed classes taught by our esteemed faculty and hosted by our Artistic Director Matthew Powell. See link for schedule.
  • Dancing Alone Together - Move, Create, Watch; aggregate of online classes (schedule updated daily), prompts and streams
  • Gaga Online - 6 Gaga classes daily, 7 days a week, from 2 different time zones. Classes are open to anyone, from anywhere in the world. At this time, classes will be given by Gaga Teachers in Tel Aviv and New York City. Classes are donation based, give what you can, if you can.
  • Mile Zero Dance - Mile Zero Dance, Edmonton AB: youtube channel with new class videos from all styles of dance
  • Virtual Dance Opportunities - Google doc of online dance classes.

Film

Music

Virtual Music Events Directory - Tools, platforms, and events.

  • Arkells “Flatten the Curve” Music Lessons - classes on IG live with the Arkells
  • Choir!ntine, an EPIC Social Distan-Sing-Along - Everyone is invited to log on and sing with us. And just like our shows, we’ll hang out, share some laughs and hold our C!ommunity close. we’ll do it again, and again, and again (!) Until this is over and we get to sing in person again.
  • Moog and Korg Synth - Moog and Korg have released their synthesizer apps for free. Moog’s Minimoog Model D iOS app and Korg’s iKaossilator app for iOS and Android are available for free for a limited time.
  • Virtual Verdi Choir: Music Solidarity Project - A virtual performance of Verdi’s “Va pensiero” from Nabucco. One of the most symbolic musical pieces of hope. Each one of us makes a recording, and once we have enough recordings we will put them all together in a great musical video collage.

Performance

  • DIY Radio Series - DIY Theatre, Calgary: We are seeking to partner with theatres, actors and writers that have seen their works cancelled over the past few weeks to create content for this series. The series will be available for everyone on Spotify, and we will also be accepting donations on our Facebook page. All proceeds raised will go directly to involved theatre professionals.
  • isolation (Together) - Vena Amoris, Edmonton AB: In the coming weeks, participating Canadian playwrights will be assigned prompts to write a new 1-5 minute solo play to be brought to life on camera by another performer. All funds raised through this campaign will be split among participants in the project. Are you a Canadian playwright or actor who has been affected by the current closures? We are accepting submissions for performers or playwrights.
  • Shakespeare Sunday - Malachite Theatre, Edmonton AB: hosts a weekly series of Shakespeare play readings on Zoom on Sunday afternoons (MST) and evenings (GMT) until the plague has passed!
  • The Show Must Go Online - Weekly readings of the Complete Works of Shakespeare by a global cast, in the order they were believed to have been written. Sign up to take part here.
  • The Spaces Between Us - Ghost River Theatre, Calgary AB: Online workshops, devising, roundtables and more.
  • Vancouver Quarantine Performance Project - Vancouver, BC: Film festival for performance, standup, and film, streamed online on April 18 7pm PST (preshow at 6:30).

Visual

Writing

Creation for Kids

  • Imagineering in a Box - Free course from Disney & Khan Academy: The series offers 32 videos in which Imagineers share how they use a wide range of skills – from story development and conceptual design, to math, physics and engineering – to create immersive experiences. Aimed at youth but excellent for adults.
  • Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems - Animator and children’s author hosts: “Grab some paper and pencils, pens, or crayons. We are going to doodle together and explore ways of writing and making. New episodes will be posted each weekday at 1pm ET and then remain online to be streamed afterwards.
  • McHarper Manor - studio will be going live daily Monday through Friday at 1pm ET, with free art & craft tutorials to create at home with your kids
  • Scratch 2.0: Free program to create your own interactive stories, games and animations from MIT. Scratch is designed especially for ages 8 to 16, but is used by people of all ages.

Consuming & Watching Art

The List: Alberta-based livestreams compiled and updated regularly by the Edmonton Journal.

CBC Virtual Arts Listing, updated weekly

CBC Virtual Music Listing, updated weekly

Dance

  • Bolshoi Theater - Moscow, Russia: Bolshoi Theater has launched a streaming service with some of its most popular opera and ballet performances, also known as the ‘Golden Collection,’ on its official YouTube channel. New performances uploaded at 7 pm MSK daily.
  • Exquisite Corps (42 choreographers, 1 dance) - A dance-film: 42 American contemporary choreographers link together on a chain love letter to dance.
  • Quarentap - Edmonton, AB: Artist Jason Hardwick taps to requested songs.

Film

  • Kanopy - online streaming of films, free with a lot of library cards!
  • Metro Cinema - Edmonton, AB: Streaming curated independent films.
  • NFB Indigenous Cinema - Over 200 films from Indigenous directors (Canada)
  • NFB (National Film Board) - The National Film Board of Canada's award-winning online Screening Room, featuring over 3,000 productions. Films on this site can be streamed free of charge, or downloaded for your personal use for a small fee.
  • Spliff - The 2019 underground sensation in Seattle, Portland, Denver & San Francisco is now available for streaming! Join in for an elevated evening of everything cannabis. Choose your price! All contributions received are shared with our filmmakers

Music

  • Berlin Philharmonic - Berlin, Germany: free access to all concerts and films
  • Celeigh Cardinal Trio concert - Juno-nominated musician Celeigh Cardinal w/ a livestream concert, recorded March 27.
  • Dropkick Murphys - Boston, USA: St Patrick’s Day concert
  • Edmonton Symphony Orchestra livestream event - Edmonton, AB: Rafael Hoekman, ESO Principal Cellist, and Jeremy Spurgeon, Music Director for All Saints Anglican Cathedral, will perform a free one-hour concert of beloved classical works from composers Tchaikovsky, Elgar, Fauré, and Popper - a safe distance apart. The concert was live-streamed March 26.
  • Jann Arden - Free mini-concert, recorded livestream.
  • The Starlite Sessions - Edmonton, AB: “The Starlite Sessions is a digital venue. It is a website, social media and YouTube channel that hosts online webinars, podcasts and concerts.” Launched “to help our community combat social isolation.”
  • Seattle Symphony - Seattle, USA: free broadcasts of concerts shared through YouTube and facebook starting
  • VISSIA Living Room Live - Edmonton, AB: Recorded March 21, Canadian alt-pop artist live show.

Opera

Theatre/Variety

Free Theatre Screenings - a google spreadsheet of ongoing presentations, listed by date

Theatre Resources for Isolation - a google doc aggregate of how to read, watch & listen to theatre online

One-Time/Limited Access

Weekly articles from the Globe and Mail on What to Watch

The List: Alberta-based livestreams compiled and updated regularly by the Edmonton Journal.

CBC Virtual Arts Listing, updated weekly

Ongoing

  • The Alberta Queer Calendar Project - Cardiac Theatre, Edmonton AB: 12 Months of Podcast Drama by Queer, Albertan Writers. Cardiac Theatre, in partnership with What It Is Productions, presents a full year of podcast drama from queer, Albertan writers in 2020. Episodes are released monthly and are free to access from anywhere.
  • Arts Anyway - Canada-wide: producing informative and entertaining webseries, podcasts and more that feature people affected by COVID-19's impact on the performing arts industry. Weekly.
  • Arts Club - Vancouver, BC: Digital offerings including performances and workshops.
  • The Dad’s Garage Social Distancing Spectacular! - Dad’s Garage, Atlanta: is streaming live shows, podcasts, improviser content, and silent auction every day on Twitch.
  • DieNasty Improvised Radio Show - DieNasty, Edmonton: weekly improv soap opera. New episode every Monday.
  • House of Hush Livestream Show - House of Hush, Edmonton AB: PWYC livestream burlesque shows. Next: May 29, 8-9:30pm MST
  • The Show Must Go Online - Weekly readings of the Complete Works of Shakespeare by a global cast, in the order they were believed to have been written. Streams available after they livestream.
  • The Shows Must Go On - Andrew Lloyd Webber posts a full-length production every Friday at 7pm BST available for 48 hours.
  • Stars In The House - New shows daily at 2 and 8 pm ET, hosted by Seth Rudetsky and his husband, producer James Wesley featuring stars of stage and screen singing and performing live (from home!) to promote support for The Actors Fund’s services.
  • Stuck in the House Series - Citadel Theatre, Edmonton: Edmonton artists who have lost income due to cancelled projects or gigs will present performances on the Citadel Facebook page throughout the current hiatus. All artists are paid an artist fee and donations go to them as well. Daily until the theatre reopens.

Recorded

  • The Blue Light Festival - Verb Theatre, Calgary, AB: An online performance festival experienced through the mediums of Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and beyond.
  • Broadway Plays & Musicals - Information and links from Playbill to watch Broadway online.
  • #CirqueConnect - Cirque du Soleil: Shows, VR, workout, makeup tutorials and more.
  • Coercive Measures: Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz - Berlin, Germany: Berlin’s famous theatre is opening its storied video vaults. It’s a simple deal: every night, starting at 6.30pmCET and running until midnight, a different play from their vaults will stream.
  • digital drag: an online drag show - Recorded stream - the world’s first Digital Drag Show! Presented by Biqtch Puddiń and Megna, featuring over 20 queens and kings & dj set. $10 suggested donation, PWYC
  • Digital Fringe vol. 1 - Edmonton, AB: Pay to rent 2019 Edmonton Fringe Festival faves like For Science! and Reality Crack.
  • Geekenders - Vancouver, BC: Recorded shows. A burlesque and theatre troupe by geeks, for geeks!
  • Indulgence - A semi-improvised comedy magic show with Lucy Darling, recorded December 2019 at the Chicago Magic Lounge (free video of full show)
  • The Favourite: A Relaxing Fireplace Story - Calgary, AB: A stuffed animal finds himself magically brought to life but soon discovers he is not the favourite. A relaxing virtual fireplace with a side of puppetry. Advance to - 17:03 - to just watch the fire.
  • MINE from Theatre Replacement - Theatre Replacement, Vancouver, BC: Recorded livestream of show.
  • PlayME Podcast - From CBC Podcasts, theatre plays transformed into audio dramas. Features distinguished actors, and focuses on current and relevant scripts geared to the growing “on-demand” audience.
  • Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage - London, UK: Sadler's Wells presents a programme of full-length dance performances and workshops online.
  • Shakespeare’s Globe - London, UK: Join us for six of our plays, shown for free via our YouTube channel, one at a time, on rotation every two weeks, as part of ‘YouTube Premieres’.
  • Stratford Festival - Stratford, ON: After the Stratford films are screened in movie theatres by Cineplex, they are broadcast on CBC in a condensed version – and the first 12 are now available for streaming on the CBC Gem app.
  • (Thunder)CATS: The Musical - Grindstone Theatre, Edmonton, AB: FREE. Filmed at the 2019 Edmonton Fringe Festival, a parody musical.
  • Virtual Stage Tours - Google Arts & Culture: Step inside some of the most beautiful theatres, concert halls and opera houses in the world and experience the grandeur and drama of these iconic venues.

Visual

  • The Louvre - digital tours of some exhibits at the Louvre
  • Paris Musees - a collection of 14 museums in Paris have recently made high-res digital copies of 100,000 artworks freely available to the public on their collections website. Artists with works in the archive include Rembrandt, Monet, Picasso, Cézanne, and thousands of others.
  • Ultimate Guide to Virtual Museum Resources, E-Learning, and Online Collections - Every resource is free to access and enjoy. Much of it, though not all, is also open content, in the sense that it’s freely reusable and re-mixable under Creative Commons licensing. Open content is clearly labeled on its respective website.
  • Virtual Museum Tours - Google Arts & Culture offers free online tours of museums around the world, including the Guggenheim, the British Museum, and the Van Gogh Museum.

Writing

  • BUDDHIST THIRDCLASS JUNKMAIL ORACLE - ‪download free PDFs of d.a.levy's exceptional, strange and highly-influential BUDDHIST THIRDCLASS JUNKMAIL ORACLE and unlearn design
  • Canadian authors reading online - CBC: Writers and illustrators across the country are filming readings of their books or drawing lessons for viewers to watch online. Here's a collection of taped and upcoming readings and how to access them online.
  • L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E - Download PDFs of every issue (and explore Eclipse, there's so much more great stuff)
  • S.R. Ringuette - Calgary, AB: free PDFs of comics and novels written by author S.R. Ringuette.

Freelance Resources

Education

General

  • Edmonton Public Library - Edmonton, AB: award-winning library with extensive online and digital content. Requires a free library card, available online with Edmonton-area postal code
  • edX: Online continuing education. Free & Paid Courses.
  • Free Training Opportunities - Active list from FB group I Lost My Gig
  • Ivy League Courses (450 free) - Online courses available for free from Ivy League schools, divided into categories
  • Stay Home Learn Cree - Cree Literacy Network: One teaching video a day.
  • UNESCO Distance Learning Solutions - “Educational applications and platforms to help parents, teachers, schools and school systems facilitate student learning and provide social caring and interaction during periods of school closure. While these solutions do not carry UNESCO’s explicit endorsement, they tend to have wide reach, a strong user-base and evidence of impact. Most of the solutions are free and several support multiple languages.”

Art-specific

  • Art Apart - National Theatre School, QC: 12 online training programs covering all the theatre disciplines. Professional actors, directors, designers, composers and theatre makers, artists who are part of the teaching team at NTS, will offer free online classes available to all artists, to support the deepening of their craft during this time of isolation.
  • Citadel Masterclass Series - Citadel Theatre, AB: Free. Every Monday in May, the series will feature an internationally renowned theatre-maker leading a session on a topic they are passionate about. Recordings available after for some masterclasses.
  • CLASSROOM - Canadian Stage, ON: A 5-week series of free online masterclasses and discussions about today's shifting approaches and opportunities for live performance makers. May 25 - June 25, 2020.
  • ETC Learning Stage - Free during COVID-19. Courses include, Technical Training, Console Training, Mosaic Designer Training, ETCP Continuing Education Classes.
  • Event Technology Training -  Every free Event Technology training Class, tutorial, and workshop being offered during COVID-19. A constantly-updating list of training in stage lighting, grandMA, audio, and other Event Technologies.
  • Fundamentals of Animation - FREE: Master animator Aaron Blaise (“The Lion King”, “Brother Bear”, “Mulan”) takes you through the key principles of animation.
  • Ghost Light - Stratford, ON: GhostLight is an immersive digital theatrical training ground. We engage premiere theatre mentors and pair them with emerging and mid-career artists in online masterclasses and individual coaching. Our classes are live, interactive and accessible.
  • MoMA - free coursera classes
  • National Arts Centre Masterclasses - Ottawa, ON: Archive of masterclasses.
  • New York Theatre Workshop - NY, USA: Virtual programming of chats and workshops, free or by donation.
  • Stage Research (SFX 6 Deluxe, Show Builder, RF Guru, RF Scanner) - During this time of idle theaters and postponed projects, Stage Research is offering any of our software programs for free. After we get through this COVID-19 period, we'll restore pricing however that will not affect any product that you get today.
  • Yoga for Voice - Edmonton, AB: David Wilson leads; Thursdays 9-10amMST, Mondays 7-8pmMST. Free or by donation.

Self-Care

Mental Health

  • Headspace for Work - free collection of resources to help you guide and support your team through the stress and anxiety of the current global crisis. Focused on compassionate leadership.
  • Mental Health and COVID-19 - CAMH, Ontario: “The situation is stressful for everyone and it is normal to be anxious and worried. This site is designed to provide information and suggestions about how best to cope in this difficult time.” Includes advice for coping with anxiety and how to talk to children about the current situation.
  • Mental Health Commission of Canada Resource Hub
  • Online AA Meetings
  • We All Believe In You - Edmonton, AB: Online community w/ online support zooms for mental health and community. Meetings will now be 12 pm and 7 pm MST daily. The 12 pm meeting will be more of a hangout. Casual and less serious. The 7 PM meeting will be hosted by a mental health clinician and this will be a place for you to share your struggles and anxiety and to receive feedback from the community.
  • Wellness Together Canada - FREE from Gov of Canada in response to Covid: Wellness self-assessment and tracking; Self guided courses, apps, and other resources; Group coaching and peer support; Counselling by text or phone.

Meditation

  • Grounding Meditation - guided grounding meditation from Freedom Yoga & Wellness
  • Headspace - free meditation videos; also a subscription app which provides a 10-day beginner course for free.

Animals

Other Nice Things

General Resources

Coronavirus Resource Kit - an incredibly comprehensive resource list. Primarily USA perspective, but lots of internationally applicable resources. Features resources from disabled, queer, elderly, Asian, and Indigenous people.

Decolonizing Community Care in Response to COVID-19 - NDN collective out of South Dakota

RESOURCES - YEG Community Response - Edmonton-based resource document.

Worried about the Virus?

The World Health Organization has a FAQ on COVID-19 that addresses many concerns and misconceptions. It’s important to fact check information and get your info from trusted sources.

The Government of Canada has developed a Symptom Self-Assessment tool (EN/FR) to help determine if you need further medical attention for COVID-19. Please note: this was developed for Canadians and may not be as useful outside of the country.

Government of Canada COVID-19 Official Site

                Provincial & Territorial COVID-19 Sites:

British Columbia

Alberta

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

Ontario

Quebec

Newfoundland and Labrador

New Brunswick

Nova Scotia

Prince Edward Island

Yukon

Northwest Territories

Nunavut