Connect to Culture from your Couch
Art offers us escape, beauty, inspiration, and hope. While we are staying safe at home, it is the perfect time to also stay connected to culture. Don’t let your confinement to the couch prevent virtual visits to the arts! Erin Vivion, Mercer Island resident and Chair of the Mercer Island Arts Council, compiled this list of suggestions. Enjoy your virtual arts experiences!
Meander through Mercer Island
Stroll through the City of Mercer Island’s Public Art Collection virtually using the Public Art Story Map. Click here to take your virtual tour.
Island Books can still keep your nightstand reading pile alive, offering email and online order fulfillment. Connect with the literature community on the bookstore's Instagram.
The Mercer Island Fine Arts Advisory Council has moved its beloved Fine Arts Showcase online this year. Click here to find inspiring and amazing Mercer Island student art. The site will continue to be updated with new images. Consider donating funds, vital to supporting Mercer Island School Districts’ visual and performing arts programs, here: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/Mjk3Mjc=
The Mercer Island Thrift Shop is still here to support your love of textile and fashion arts! Continue to curate your closet with couture, and support Mercer Island Youth and Family Services at the same time, by shopping MI Thrift Shop’s Poshmark closet.
The Mercer Island Visual Arts League encourages us to support Mercer Island Culinary Arts by providing this comprehensive Island eatery list.
The Stroum Jewish Community Center offers a variety of ways to experience at home through its Virtual SJCC Program and SJCCTV. Find updates on virtual arts & culture programs on the Arts+Ideas webpage.
Youth Theatre Northwest is offering online classes! Sessions are suitable for ages PK – Adult. Click here to check out their offerings. Also check out Mimi Katano’s Intro to Physical Comedy YouTube video.
Stray to Seattle
By The Hour is hosting free first-Thursday virtual art walks of Pioneer Square galleries. For more info, click here.
Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Price Suddarth shares a message about isolation and an interactive VR ballet piece here.
- You can also stay connected to PNB and find at-home workouts from PNB dancers at PNB’s Instagram page.
- A comprehensive list of PNB dancers on Instagram is available by clicking here.
- PNB has compiled story ballet craft ideas on its Pinterest page.
Pacific Science Center offers Curiosity at Home, featuring streaming live science shows, hands-on STEM activities, tutorials, interviews, and more.
Quarantine Sessions offers online concerts by local artists here.
Sam Picart, Seattle based hip-hop artist, offers high energy Facebook Live classes and dance parties. Follow him here.
Seattle Art Museum implores you to Stay at Home With SAM! Find videos like this time lapse video of Do Ho Suh's Some/One (see right) and other resources to keep connected with the collection on the SAMBlog.
Seattle Opera has set up an Opera at Home site offering video playlists of past favorites, family-friendly Opera Time sessions, podcasts, streaming Opera Talks, and more.
Seattle Repertory Theatre offers behind the scene content, interviews, videos, and more here.
Seattle Symphony is sharing performances via free broadcasts. More info here.
Seattle Theatre Group will begin hosting virtual Dance For Parkinson’s classes for people with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers. Please continue to check for more info coming soon.
Silver Kite Community Arts partnered with Seattle Public Library and King County Library System to offer free registration to their online arts workshops through the end of May. Register via the KCLS website.
The Wing Luke Museum offers a quick virtual tour here.
Woodland Park Zoo offers animal webcams for your virtual visit. Stay connected on Facebook.
Bop on to Bellevue
Bellevue Art Museum’s #MuseumFromHome offers virtual tours and fun craft tutorials available on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
KidsQuest Children’s Museum is posting social media videos featuring playful and educational activities. Follow on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Get Creative with the Getty Challenge
Recreate your favorite masterpiece with items you have at home! Click here for more information.
Explore these Live Music and Dance Resources
Our sincere thanks to Erin Vivion, Mercer Island Resident and Chair of the Mercer Island Arts Council, for putting together this comprehensive list of virtual arts resources!
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