Artsline: Virtual Edition || April 17, 2020
"Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one." ~ Stella Adler
Missing the RVA arts scene? There's good news - our arts and culture community is finding creative solutions for overcoming social distancing challenges. Here are some great options to stay connected this week and get your arts fix safe from home.
1. Legends at Home
Music/Theatre
Monday, Wednesdays, Fridays - noon and 7pm
Richmond Performing Arts Alliance brings local performing artists, like Susan Greenbaum pictured above, right to your computer, for free, streaming performances. While the RPAA provides these concerts free to the public, artists are paid through generous support of sponsors.
2. Anne Frank: A Six-Part Digital Series and Reflection on Isolation
Theatre
Thursdays through April 30th
The Whistlestop Theatre Company in Ashland launched their first-ever digital series. This six-part event brings to life selected diary entries by Anne Frank, reflecting on themes of isolation, confusion, and hope. The diary entries are supported with educational materials as well as community discussions. Watch on Facebook or their website.
3. Oakwood Arts Activity Kits
Visual Arts
In collaboration with the Richmond Public Schools, Oakwood Arts is assembling art activity kitsto give to students at local RPS food distribution sites. Each kit will include two weeks of art supplies, plus K-5 and teen activity prompts designed to help students stay engaged with the RPS curriculum. Want to help? Donate art supplies for the kits - go here to learn more.
4. Secret Stage Concerts
Music
Wednesdays - Saturdays, 7pm
The Beacon Theatre presents their Secret Stage live stream concerts to benefit Richmond/Tri-Cities musicians and employees at the Beacon affected by the COVID-19 shutdowns. You can also view them on Facebook Live.
5. Facebook Live Ranger Chat: “Maggie Walker’s Richmond”
History
April 22, 1pm
The Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site and Richmond National Battlefield Park present a “virtual tour” of sites around Richmond that have a significant connection to Maggie Walker’s life. “Stops” include the site of her birth, church, office building, and bank. Plus, the Maggie Walker website offers a 360 degree tourof Maggie Walker’s house in Jackson Ward.
6. The Damsel: A Visual Album Collaboration
Visual Art
Wednesdays and Fridays, beginning April 22
Thirteen Virginia-based artists joined together to launch this digital exhibit inspired by the newly released album, The Damsel by Erin Lunsford. Each artist will select a favorite a track and create a piece of art based on their interpretation of the song. Then, starting April 22, new works will be released on Instagram every Wednesday and Friday.
7. Richmond Stories from Richmond Kids
Literary/History
In the coming weeks, The Valentine museum is gathering Richmond kids’ stories about how life changed in Spring, 2020. Send your stories, journals, drawings, and pictures so they can share the story of what life was like for students in Richmond during this period. Writing prompts included.
If you are an arts or culture organization with social-distance-safe events such as online classes, virtual exhibitions or concerts, or even book readings, submit your events to Artsline here. If you are an artist, or an arts or culture organization in need of resources and tools during the COVID-19 pandemic, check out the list of local and national resources from Richmond CultureWorks.
