5 Virtual Art, Dance and Event Opportunities
Here are some creative ways to get some virtual culture and entertainment back into our lives.
Travel back to the 1940s with the Rhode Island Historical Society to enjoy archival film footage, a vignette collections tour, silent art auction, Rhode Island trivia and much more while supporting RIHS. Pictured here is part of the WWII efforts to be found in the Girls’ City Club (GCC) of Providence collection.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to stay at home has limited the ways Rhode Island residents are experiencing entertainment and opportunities to be creative. Many local groups and businesses are introducing ways to experience and take part in different art forms right from your living room. Check out the following virtual programs!
Virtual Art Night Bristol Warren
Virtual Art Night Bristol Warren will give locals the interaction and novelty of an art show from the comfort and safety of their living rooms Thursday night. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., the night will include pieces from multiple galleries and artists including Mt. Hope High School’s art students and works from the Bristol Art Museum. The event will also feature music performances, art demonstrations and conversations with different artists. Get your tickets to the virtual art night.
Rhode Island Historical Society
Social distancing won’t stop the Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS) from hosting its annual spring fundraiser. The event, “Showtime on the Homefront: A Spring Forward Fallback Event,” will take place virtually from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday. Guests of the event will enjoy a flashback to the 1940s with vocal performances, dance lessons and trivia. Also included will be a look into the RIHS collection of letters, pictures and scrapbooks from the World War II era, as well as a costume contest and auction for party-goers to participate in. Tickets can be purchased online.
Machine Dazzle. Photo courtesy of FirstWorks.
FirstWorks Virtual Lessons
Looking to inspire creativity for your children at home? FirstWorks is producing opportunities for students to explore the arts at home in partnership with Steer PVD, which is doing all of the filming. The virtual learning series includes a variety of learning experiences for children of all ages. Classes include lessons from celebrity costume designer Machine Dazzle on visual organization and communication through different art mediums; a live tap workshop with Syncopated Ladies on June 4 at 1 p.m. on Instagram Live, and a lesson with composer Eric Nathan on musical composition as it relates to United States history. Take a look at all these virtual lessons, in addition to many others.
Island Moving Company’s Newport Academy of Ballet
With gyms and dance studios currently closed, Island Moving Company’s Newport Academy of Ballet is providing ways for adults to move and groove from the comfort of their homes. At just $10 per one-hour class, the introductory-level virtual series will cover dance styles such as ballet, tap, salsa and hip-hop. Register for classes.
RISD Museum
In RISD Museum’s new virtual workshops, participants can explore topics ranging from drawing and sketching to the repair of vintage textiles. The art school is holding virtual programs over Zoom throughout the next few weeks for teen and adult audiences, encouraging them to create in different ways. The events include “Art & Design Labs for Teens” and opportunities to use household items to create, examine and discuss as a family. View the upcoming event schedule.
