Independent artists across multiple disciplines and non-profit organizations in Brookline, the nation and the world, are suffering from widespread event cancellations and closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following is a selection of 'virtual arts & culture' that can be accessed online whilst practicing social distancing. Many of the organizations include donate buttons within these links: if you enjoy their work and are able to donate even a small amount, the appreciation would be immense... new opportunities will be added on a regular basis.
Many thanks.
Virtual Arts & Culture: Brookline and beyond...
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Brookline...
Virtual Theater Experiences From Home... from Theatre Seat Store

Just because the COVID-19 pandemic means staying safe by social distancing doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy different types of entertainment. You might not be able to go to the theater right now, but you can see a variety of performances from the comfort of your couch at home. Your media options are plentiful, including dance, music, drama, comedy, and opera. You could even try to learn about some types of performing arts that you’ve never seen or heard before by checking out some new performances.
Beginning September 1, Boston Artists Ensemble will begin their 2020/21 virtual season. Tune in on the first of every month to access completely new and professionally recorded musical collaborations.
Live music as a shared experience is the essence of their mission, but they can’t risk the health of their audience and performers. Instead of performing live at St Paul’s in Brookline, they have created a completely new season inspired by their musicians and the music they would like to share with you. Recorded live in living rooms and studios, these solos, sonatas and duets represent the best of what their performers have been preparing during the quarantine.
Live music as a shared experience is the essence of their mission, but they can’t risk the health of their audience and performers. Instead of performing live at St Paul’s in Brookline, they have created a completely new season inspired by their musicians and the music they would like to share with you. Recorded live in living rooms and studios, these solos, sonatas and duets represent the best of what their performers have been preparing during the quarantine.
Click here to access the full 2020/21 virtual season
Porchfest 2020 is now #StayHomeFest!

Brookline Porchfest is a celebration of community and music. This year, as a community, we needed to think and act differently than normal. The impact of the COVD-19 has affected all of us, and to help fight the spread of this virus, Brookline Porchfest 2020 went virtual.
Rather than gathering together on the sidewalks, driveways, and porches around town to listen and share music together, this year, thanks to YOUR talent and enthusiasm, we created a single piece of music TOGETHER.
And here is the split-screen video montage featuring YOU playing, singing, dancing, or simply smiling and waving along to our featured song: HOME by Phillip Phillips! Click here to view.
Brookline Porchfest is a celebration of community and music. This year, as a community, we needed to think and act differently than normal. The impact of the COVD-19 has affected all of us, and to help fight the spread of this virus, Brookline Porchfest 2020 went virtual.
Rather than gathering together on the sidewalks, driveways, and porches around town to listen and share music together, this year, thanks to YOUR talent and enthusiasm, we created a single piece of music TOGETHER.
And here is the split-screen video montage featuring YOU playing, singing, dancing, or simply smiling and waving along to our featured song: HOME by Phillip Phillips! Click here to view.
Virtual Art Classes with AmyDaily art meetups
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Brookline Booksmith Recommended Social Distancing ReadsBrookline Booksmith is staffed and open for ONLINE orders
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Art at Home Series & Virtual Spring Session - Brookline Arts CenterLearn more about the BAC’s free Art at Home activity series, Virtual Spring Session, and follow updates at www.brooklineartscenter.com.
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Brookline Arts Center
Art Off the WallVirtual Event: Saturday, May 16, 2020 | 7:00-8:00PM
Sixth annual ART Off The Wall auction in a virtual setting! The work, donated by artists throughout Massachusetts, includes original paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture and more. Each piece will be on view this year through an online gallery. Plus the presentation of the annual Berliner Award. |
Brookline Music School - Virtual Music SpaceThis virtual space celebrates the Brookline Music School's common pursuit of music. Enjoy a medley of videos from the community and others. If you have performance videos that you would like to share, please email info@bmsmusic.org. Also you can sign up for virtual music classes - registration fees are waived for new online students. |
MistralMistral's season finale, Foreign Exchange, originally scheduled for April 17-19, has sadly been cancelled. However you can still listen to and watch this local ensemble anytime..
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Non-Event at HomeNon-Event is a BCA grantee and this virtual concert series is devoted to the presentation of the finest in experimental, abstract, improvised, and new music from New England and around the world.
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Brookline Booksmith Virtual EventsLive conversations with authors
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Meet the Brookline Symphony Members at HomeA new virtual series - Meet the Brookline Symphony Orchestra!
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Brookline Library Services OnlineFill your days with books, stories, art, and so much more, virtually
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Streaming concertsShostakovich: String Quartet No.8 in C minor, Opus 101 - this concert is replacing "French Connection" program which was postponed due to COVID-19
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Virtual PuppeteersPuppeteers have moved creative content online to connect with kids and families at home.
Brookline's Puppet Showplace Theater & Emergency Fund |
and beyond....
A Statewide Creative Festival for All#ArtWeekAtHome is the reimagined format replacing the original ArtWeek that would have featured almost 800 creative events in over 170 communities across the state.
If you want to 'host' a virtual art/creative event and be part of Art Week at Home click here |
Andrea Bocelli: Music for Hope
Live from Duomo de Milano, Italy
April 12, 2020 |
Virtual Stewart Gardner MuseumEnjoy Art, Music, Gardens and more...
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Virtual Seder featured on NPR's Arts & LifeHollywood stars, Jews and non-Jews, such as Idina Menzel, Sarah Silverman and Josh Groban, celebrated Passover by streaming a Seder virtually with storytelling and music and comedy.
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National Theatre at HomeEnjoy world class theatre at home from the National Theatre, London. Free full-length plays every Thursday.
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11 things to do without leaving homeTrashy book clubs, cocktails and live music
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Explore Art & Culture VirtuallyGoogle Arts & Culture features content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute
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Orchestra Plays Beethoven 9th from their HomesThe Rotterdam Philharmonic playing their parts by video from their homes.
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EXIT : QUARANTINE
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Yo-Yo Ma calls for #SongsOfComfortYo-Yo Mar has been tweeting out recordings of himself playing the cello and has encouraged people to create and share their own art from home during this time, using the #SongsOfComfort on different social media platforms to showcase those creations..
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Met Opera Streaming NightlyEach night a different encore presentation from the company’s Live in HD series is being made available for free streaming on the Met website, with each performance available for a period of 23 hours, from 7:30 p.m. EDT until 6:30 p.m. the following day.
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Keep your Distance FestA virtual music festival presented by Passim
Musicians practicing “social distancing” will post videos of themselves playing in their living room for KEEP YOUR DISTANCE FEST that will feature songs about staying calm, hope and sticking together. |
Artists for Humanity Social Distance Art Gallery A much needed daily dose of art from Artists for Humanity
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Five-thousand-year-old Egyptian tomb opens for virtual tourTake a virtual tour of the 5,000-year-old tomb of Queen Meresankh III - 3D modelling by Harvard University
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"Shakespeare on the Common Encores" seriesFeatures artists who have performed on the Shakespeare on the Common stage sharing monologues they have performed in the past. |
SHARE YOUR SHAKESPEARE!Perform a speech, paint a picture or bake a cake – join the largest ever celebration of Shakespeare by audiences in our history
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Rime of the Ancient Mariner: The Big ReadStreaming daily Igy Pop and Jeremy Irons lead mass Ancient Mariner reading of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 2020 incarnation: also features Marianne Faithfull and Tilda Swinton as readers, set against sound and fine art
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Concert for Our City
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Peabody Essex Museum
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