One positive thing about this quarantine (aside from it flattening the curve and saving lives!) is that it has encouraged an appreciation for nature, creativity and connection for many. Here you will find some great resources for fun, educational and mostly free links. Scroll to the bottom if you are only interested in finding organizations to help with COVID-19 relief.
For some comic relief, check out this funny song This Ain’t No Living by Tim Heidecker (and filmed by his daughter) about having to stay home. And here’s a great segment about a formerly incarcerated artist, Mr. Wash, and his advice on how to handle being confined at this time.
Are you feeling anxious? I found this Vox read How to Manage Anxiety During a Pandemic to be helpful.
If you have any other resources you’d like to share, you can leave the info in a comment below :)
ART & ILLUSTRATION (see below for museums)
Carson Ellis, an illustrator is giving daily prompts for drawing with her #quarantineartclub
Danielle Krysa, The Jealous Curator, is doing the #30dayartquarantine
Mo Willems, children’s book illustrator is doing Lunch Doodles on YouTube
Oliver Jeffers, children’s book author and illustrator, is reading his books live on Instagram.
Wendy MacNaughton, illustrator extraordinaire is teaching kids art classes live at 10am. She did this for one week and has decided to for the rest of the school year. Find the art under #drawtogether
You can find more free drawing classes with illustrators here
For a variety of online classes, try
The Arsenal, a classes and art supply store in San Jose, is offering online figure drawing for $15 a session without instruction. They have other classes as well.
Creativebug - they have a free trial
Skillshare, an online learning community focusing on creative classes
YouTube - free, just search any media and/or subject and you will find instruction videos
EDUCATION
Cal Academy of Sciences - animal webcams, STEM and more
Instructables - free tutorials on a variety of subjects
Monterey Bay Aquarium - you can enjoy a virtual visit
NASA - Space Center Houston app
The San Diego Zoo - live cams
Scholastic - learn at home for students
Here’s a robust list of educational resources.
EXERCISE
Fitness Blender has great free workouts
Grokker is free during the outbreak
Westca is showing free workouts on Instagram
Yoga with Adrienne free yoga that’s good for beginners and beyond
LANGUAGES
MUSEUMS
The National Museum of Anthropology - Mexico City
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea
And find a longer list here.
This list of home tours (including Frida Kahlo’s!) will keep you busy for awhile.
MUSIC
A list of All Musicians Streaming Live Concerts (although I’m sure there’s more than this!)
POSITIVITY
Good News Movement is what you think it is: positive news stories including ones related to the pandemic. If you aren’t on Instagram, you can find them on Facebook too.
RELIEF
While some are lucky to work from home (and still have jobs), medical and emergency workers, delivery drivers, grocery store workers, janitors, recently unemployed, restaurant workers, postal workers, the homeless, trash collectors, those in underserved communities and more do not have the same privilege of being safe at home.
American Red Cross - donate blood
Best Friends - no-kill animal rescue and advocacy
Boys and Girls Club of America
CERF+ for visual artists
COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund - help at-risk countries track the spread of the virus, testing, vaccine development and protective equipment for medical workers
Direct Relief - delivering protective gear for medical workers
Restaurant Workers Community Foundation or see A List of Relief Funds for Restaurants, Bars, and Food Service Workers
You can also support the businesses you love by:
Purchase online or gift cards from retail, galleries or restaurants.
Order books online from your favorite bookstores (rather than Amazon). I love Powell’s in Portland.
Sharing how others can support them on social media
Take care, stay healthy and wash your hands!