How Art Thou? Explore New Art Exhibits, Learn to Draw, Star in a Play + More While Staying at Home

A continuing series about  awesome social distance activities in DC to keep you entertained during the outbreak and inspired to keep daydreaming about your next adventure in the Nation's capital.

More and more activities in DC are popping up on the virtual landscape as DC's museums and theatres adjust to the "new normal" that has us self-isolating at home.

We've curated eight of the latest virtual events that will feed your arts and culture curiosity. With so many new  and creative ways to explore DC, you'll need a strong WiFi connection to keep up with all the digital cultural experiences! 

Tune in to National Air and Space Museum’s Live Chat Series

Make sure to check this space for daily live chats hosted by the National Air and Space Museum. Topics have included the future of transportation, the sun, Afrofuturism and animals in space.

Learn to Draw with the National Portrait Gallery

Check out Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery’s Instagram, every Thursday at 11am, to learn how to draw figures and bodies with artist Jill Galloway

National Gallery of Art's ​Degas at the Opéra Virtual Tour

The Degas at the Opera exhibit at the National Gallery of Art was open just two weeks before its temporary closure. But you can explore the first exhibit to explore Degas' fascination with the opera through a virtual tour allows you to explore each room of the exhibition which features audio and video clips and the ability to ready wall text. You can also follow their Instragram account for a daily behi“Tours” include close-up images of the paintings, brief descriptions and curator comments.

Black Artists and European Modernists at the Phillips

“Riffs and Relations,” the newest exhibit at the Phillips Collection had to close shortly after it opened. The exhibition explores the dynamic between black visual artists and white European modernists in the 20th and 21st centuries. Click over to YouTube  for an eight-part video series featuring a tour of the exhibition and stories about key artists. You can also learn about one of the gems of its permanent collection, Jacob Lawrence’s “Migration Series,” here.

National Museum of Women in the Arts Goes Digital

National Museum of Women in the Arts has transformed its real-life exhibits into an expansive catalog of online content. Explore its two ground-breaking exhibits -- Graciela Iturbide's "Mexico" and Delita Martin's "Calling Down the Spirits" --  through audio commentaries, playlists, and blogs. Plus, browse their online collection of 200+ works of art by women artists, high-resolution arts through Google Arts & Culture, and enjoy a copy of Women in the Arts Magazine, usually only available to members. And they post about women artists every day on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. 

#HirshhornInsideOut

Join Hirshhorn on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, to connect with museum curators to tour collections through keen insights and observations. They also issue creative challenges that  you to sketch, mold, look closely, and discover your inner-artist, or that of your kids. The Hirshhorn's YouTube channel is a robust collection of artist talks and intimate exhibit tours of past and current installations.

Play at Home with Woolly Mammoth 

There's a saying that all the world's a stage. In this case, the stage is your living room floor! Woolly Mammoth, along with several other theatres, joined together and commissioned  multiple playwrights to write a series of ten-minute plays  that can be downloaded and performed by anyone--at home.

National Geographic's "Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall” Virtual Exhibit

The story of Dr. Jane Goodall—DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace—is a story of extraordinary scientific achievement and inspiration. “Becoming Jane,” showcases Dr. Goodall’s life and legacy. You’ll explore Dr. Goodall’s early years through iconic images and a multiscreen experience and venture on a 3D exploration of Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park where she did her famous behavioral research on chimps. You’ll also see a life-size hologram of Dr. Goodall, enter a replica of her research tent, and learn about her current role as a leader in community-centered conservation and youth empowerment.

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Curious? There's more!

• 10+ DC and Historical  Sites You Can Visit Virtually, No Tickets Required
• 10 Cool and Mostly Free Things to Do If You're Sticking Close to Home
• Rock Out at a Live Show Right in Your Own Living Room