At the recommendation of public health officials, public institutions have temporarily closed their doors to help prevent the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and Canadians are strongly encouraged to practice physical distancing to reduce their exposure to other people. During this time, many cultural institutions are trying to be innovative in offering activities in line with these physical distancing guidelines and in doing so continue to remind us that art and culture can help lift our spirits and support our wellbeing.
The following is just a short list of some cultural institutions and exhibitions that people may access online:
- Acropolis Museum (Athens, Greece) collections can be accessed through Google Arts & Culture
- Art Gallery of Ontario Online Collections (follow the AGO on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook)
- Canadian Museum of History Online Exhibitions
- Gardiner Museum Online Collections
- Louvre (Paris, France) Online Tours
- MoMA (New York City, USA) Online Collection
- Musée d’Orsay (Paris, France) collections can be accessed through Google Arts & Culture
- National Gallery of Canada Online Collections
- Royal Ontario Museum Online Collections (follow the ROM on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook)
Google Streetview also takes you inside the museum where you can wander through exhibits as if you were physically there. - Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery can be accessed through Google Arts & Culture
- State Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg, Russia) one-take video journey (5 hours)
- Tate Galleries (UK) often post live exhibitions on their homepage
- The Changing Face of Toronto. This is an exhibition about the everyday people who lived in Toronto in the 20th century. A vibrant mosaic of portraits and skylines, The Changing Face of Toronto tells the story of a city that has evolved over the last century.
- The National Gallery (London, UK) Online Collections
- TIFF Higher Learning Digital Resource Hub. The Higher Learning Digital Resource Hub complements TIFF's live events by providing satellite educational programming to academic communities and to the public at large. Lectures, Master Classes, Panel Discussions, and Post-Screen Conversations can be accessed on TIFF's website.
- TIFF Reel Heritage. Launched in November 2014 as a joint initiative of TIFF Higher Learning and the Film Reference Library (FRL), Reel Heritage engages and educates audiences about the importance of the preservation of the film medium. Past Reel Heritage events, panels, and resources can be accessed on TIFF's website.
- Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum (Madrid, Spain) Virtual Rembrandt Exhibition & Balenciaga and Spanish Paintings Collection
- Vancouver Art Gallery virtual tours can be accessed through Google Streetview
- Vatican Museums (Rome, Italy) Online Catalogue & 360 degree Tours
Please take care of yourselves, your family, and your friends as we continue to navigate this unprecedented chapter in our history.