COVID-19

As part of the BBC Arts programme Culture in Quarantine, Arts Council England and BB - with selection process run by The Space - have commissioned 25 new works of literary, musical, visual, sonic, and performance arts themed around lockdown.

The commissions will receive production and editorial support from partner arts organisations including Battersea Arts Centre, Sadler’s Wells, Opera North and Unlimited.

These pieces will be broadcast across BBC Radio 3 and BBC TV, through podcasts on BBC Sounds, and through the BBC Arts website.

Art UK has announced the launch of Curations, a revolutionary free digital tool allowing anyone anywhere to create an online exhibition.

Museums and other public collections can also mount digital exhibitions of physical shows that have closed or imagine exhibitions they would like to stage in the future. During lockdown, Curations will be of particular value to collections.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week and Creativity and Wellbeing Week, the Culture Diary is sharing some arts and cultural resources for the sector and everyone with an interest in it.

Music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins offers a chance for you to sing with others in a weekly choir on Tuesdays. The charity explains:

A WEEKLY comic strip by artist and illustrator Nick Burton, and distributed by Manchester arts centre HOME, will explore self-isolation and human behaviour through the lens of the effect of the bubonic plague on the Derbyshire village of Eyam in the 17^th century.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week and Creativity and Wellbeing Week, the Culture Diary will share some arts and cultural resources for the sector and everyone with an interest in it. 

National Gallery has produced a five-minute meditation video based around Turner's painting 'Rain, Steam and Speed'. Watch it below.

National Theatre Wales and Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru are accepting new digital commissions from theatre-makers in Wales until Monday 18 May 2020 as part of their efforts to help make live theatre in digital spaces during the ongoing lockdown. The open call is part of National Theatre Wales's Network programme, which includes new work and projects.

Circus arts organisation Upswing is sharing resources on circus skills as a way to help you stay active during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. 

These resources range from solo circus for older people who are self-isolating, to activities for kids and the whole family.

Homemade Circus for Older People

Story Box Circus is an Upswing project delivered in care homes in Hull as part of Hull City of Culture in 2017.

The names of the artists and projects who have received 

Read our May2020 newsletter filled with suggestions for culture at home and resources for the culture and creative industries sector for support and help during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the May 2020 newsletter here.

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