To help you navigate the wealth of recent digital visual arts activity, we'll be collating on this page content we've spotted, found useful and interesting. 

We will be adding to it over the coming period, giving you our pick for the week and highlighting new items to the list and activity from our international network so you can see what the rest of the world is up to too. 

We've recently moved the Covid-19 funding section from this page to British Council Arts Covid-19 Support so please now check out opportunities and grants there. 

 

PICK OF THE WEEK

NEW: RE-OPENING DATES OF UK MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES 

As lockdown measures continue to be relaxed across the UK, this is the final update of At Home With Art. For our pick of the week we share a list collated by the Culture Diary of the reopening dates of UK museums and galleries.

 

NAVIGATE THE DIRECTORY

 

WATCH / VIEW

UK

TURNER CONTEMPORARY: WE WILL WALK - ART AND RESISTANCE IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH

Take a virtual tour of We Will Walk - Art and Resistence in the American South with curators Hannah Collins and Paul Goodwin. The exhibition brings together sculptures, paintings, quilts and installations by more than 20 African American artists from Alabama and surrounding states and addresses issues of race, class and resistance.

BLACK CULTURAL ARCHIVES - SOUNDS OF THE RUSH

Listen to excerpts from the Black Cultural Archives Windrush oral history collections that provide a window into the rich and varied individual experiences of life in Britain for ‘the Windrush generation’ in the UK. Hear invaluable testimonies from iconic figures such as organisers and activists Connie Mark and Kathleen Wrsama and Windrush passenger Clifford Fullerton alongside Ivoran Fairweather William Henry and Thomas Joseph.

MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS - WINDRUSH STORIES

Explore the history of the Afro-Caribbean community in London, from never-heard-before oral histories to articles exploring the Museum of London's extensive photography collection. 

AUTOGRAPH: WINDRUSH DAY

Omar Victor Diop's artist commission reinterprets a key moment in Britain's cultural history of migration.

THE SHOWROOM MURAL COMMISSION SIMNIKIWE BUHLUNGU: NOTES TO SELF (INTIMATE 1)

Artist Simnikiwe Buhlungu references strolling as a form of knowledge production and uses text, textile and interactive sound installations to communicate ideas of gathering through a call and response with local communities.

FILM VIDEO UMBRELLA - WATCH NADEEM DIN-GABISI, MASS (2020)

MASS is a film by Nadeem Din-Gabisi that takes as a starting point the concept of ‘Black visual frequency’ coined by academic Tina Campt which, for the artist, translates as a place of home and belonging, seen and unseen.

BLACK CULTURAL ARCHIVES - STORIES OF BLACK LEADERSHIP II: BREAKING BARRIERS

Black Cultural Archives presents Breaking Barriers, the second chapter of a three-year project to make visible the journeys of pioneering Black British women who have overcome adversity to take their rightful seat at the table, with photographs by Joy Gregory.

ARTS CATALYST - EXTRACTABLE MATTERS ON FILM

Arts Catalyst has 6 weeks of weekly artist films exploring mining and renewable energy ‘Extractable Matters on Film’.

DANIELLE BRATHWAITE-SHIRLEY - PRO BLACK TRANS LIFE

An interactive archive made to store and centre black trans people.

BMW TATE LIVE EXHIBITION - OUR BODIES, OUR ARCHIVES 

Get a taste of dance artist Faustin Linyekula’s site-specific works, which were due to be housed in Tate Modern’s Tanks as part of this year’s BMW Tate Live Exhibition. An hour-long video showcases the choreographer’s works, which look into connections and the fragility of our bodies.

THE NEW ART GALLERY WALSALL - THE STAY AT HOME RESIDENCY SERIES: FAYE CLARIDGE

For her residency, Faye will invite selected parent-artists to work with the child or children they live with and care for. The artists (to date) include: Leah Carless, Jo Gane, Mahtab Hussain, Hannah Maybank, Ben Sadler of Juneau Projects, Andrew Tift and Mark Titchner.

NOTTINGHAM CONTEMPORARY - DENZIL FORRESTER, SUNG TIEU AND DIANE SIMPSON

Walk virtually around exhibitions of Denzil Forrester's colourful large scale paintings, Diane Simpson's sculptures and and Sung Tieu's sound work. 

THE HEPWORTH WAKEFIELD - BILL BRANDT / HENRY MOORE IN DETAIL

Explore the Henry Moore/Bill Brandt exhibition at Hepworth Wakefield. 

INTERNATIONAL SLAVERY MUSEUM - CHALLENGING HISTORIES

The Challenging Histories exhibition at the International Slavery Museum features contemporary artworks responding to the history of transatlantic slavery and its legacy.

ROYAL ACADEMY - FILM ABOUT TWO EXHIBITIONS BY DAVID HOCKNEY

Originally released in cinemas, this ‘Exhibition on Screen’ film takes viewers back to two Royal Academy exhibitions by the iconic British artist, David Hockney RA.

TATE - ANDY WARHOL

Join the curators at Tate Modern on a video-guided journey of the Warhol exhibition, as they reflect on his personal story during times of social, political and technological change.

INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY

British Council and ICOM UK celebrated International Museums Day by posing questions about the future to museum directors from countries around the world: from Zimbabwe to Myanmar. Questions included, 'What is your vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Museums?’ and ‘How should museums respond to Disability and Access, Diversity and Digital Technology in the Covid world?’ You can read their answers here and submit your own on the online corkboard.

CAMDEN ARTS CENTRE - THE BOTANICAL MIND ONLINE

This new online project by Camden Arts Centre investigates the significance of the plant kingdom to human life, consciousness and spirituality across cultures and through time. It brings together digital commissions, podcasts, films, texts, images and audio in an expanding archive that will be updated and added to regularly over the coming weeks.

HAYWARD GALLERY - AMONG THE TREES VIRTUAL TOUR

Ralph Rugoff leads a virtual tour of Among the Trees, a group exhibition that looks at how artists over the past 50 years have explored our relationship with trees and forests. 

LUX: PICTURING A PANDEMIC - ART AND ACTIVISM OF SURVIVAL ON SCREENS FROM THE WOMEN'S HEALTH, LGBTQIA, CRIP AND DECOLONIAL ARCHIVE

Our partner for our moving image exhibition programme WE ARE HERE, LUX, are presenting a new series of screenings, texts and discussions with artist and writer Conal McStravick that considers how video has been used for women, LGBTQIA, people with chronic conditions and people of colour to collectively survive crises and work together.

MENA

ASHKAL ALWAN

Ashkal Alwan has made available for streaming five films and videos by artists Anja Dornieden and Juan David González Monroy, Rami El-Sabbagh, Haris Epaminonda, Marianne Fahmy, and Maged Nader selected by guest curator Maha Maamoun.

ATASSI FOUNDATION

Online exhibitions from the Syrian arts initiative The Atassi Foundation, includes exhibitions such as Personal Revolutions, charting the integral role of women in the development of the Syrian Arts Scene.

WIDER EUROPE

ALMOST THERE

A digital exhibition with artworks from the British Council Collection, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine, curated by Teona Burkiashvili from Georgia, Tatiana Kochubinska from Ukraine and Seyhan Musaoğlu from Turkey.

SSA

COLLABNOWNOW

A digital exhibition bringing together artists from across Africa and the UK. The artists were selected from an open call on the basis of their strength of practice, commitment to collaboration and willingness to share their skills.

SOUTH ASIA

CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ VASTUS SANGRAHALAY MUSEUM ONLINE EXHIBITIONS 

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay Museum in Mumbai has partnered with the Google Arts & Culture to feature some of their best and most memorable graphic exhibitions online. 

EAST ASIA 

MASTERPIECES FROM THE NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON: ONLINE GUIDED EXHIBITION TOUR

Through an extensive selection of 61 masterpieces from the gallery’s collection, all shown in Japan for the first time, the exhibition gives an overview of the history of European painting by exploring the reciprocal relationship between British and continental European art. In this online tour, Christine Riding, the Jacob Rothschild Head of the Curatorial Department at the National Gallery, London, guides us through highlights of the exhibition

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, TOKYO: PETER DOIG

Step into the first solo exhibition in Japan by the contemporary Scottish "painter's painter" and British Council Collection artist Peter Doig. You can now explore Peter Doig's exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo @MOMAT60th via a 3D VR tour! #CultureConnectsUs @Brit_VisualArts @jpBritishArts

FRANCES HODGKINS: EUROPEAN JOURNEYS

Christchurch Art Gallery, New Zealand, have created a video presentation of the exhibition Frances Hodgkins: European Journeys, which includes British Council Collection works by Hodgkins that we lent to the exhibition. 

EU EUROPE 

GLUCKSMAN: HOME FROM HOME

The Gluckman has invited artists to present a work in response to the current situation. The selected artists were due to present work in the Glucksman this April as part of the exhibition HOME which is now postponed until later this year. 

 

CREATE / PARTICIPATE

UK

AUTOGRAPH: EXHIBITION IN A BOX

Designed to facilitate engagement programmes which promote cultural diversity through photography, the Exhibition In A Box comprises thirty remarkable A3 image panels produced from rare 19th century photographs portraying people of African, Caribbean and South Asian descent during the Victorian era in Britain.

WILLIAM MORRIS MEETS NINTENDO

The V&A has uploaded William Morris wallpaper designs to Nintendo's popular game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons so players can use them to design their own island home or even an art gallery.  

EDINBURGH PRINT CLUB - PRINT CLUB @ HOME 

Try some printing ideas with Edinburgh Printmakers Print Club @ Home. 

5 MINUTES MEDITATION - TURNER'S 'RAIN, STEAM AND SPEED'

The National Gallery, London has released its first slow looking tutorial as part of a new digital programme focussing on meditation to support mental health during the lockdown. 

HASTINGS CONTEMPORARY - ROBOT TOURS

Book on a live robot tour of the closed exhibition space at Hastings Contemporary

BURY ART MUSEUM - SKETCHBOOK STILL SOCIAL 

A hub for their lively and informal drawing classes to help keep creativity engaged.

NON-SUCH STUDIOS - CREATIVE QUARANTINE

A daily email of from Nottingham-based studios Non-such of creative goodness for adults and children alike.

ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH AND RISE ART: SOUND AND VISION | VIRTUAL DRAWING CLASS

A virtual drawing class where participants are invited to creatively respond to the collections of Rise Art and Royal Museums Greenwich whilst listening to a specially compiled soundtrack.

FORCED COLLABORATION

Forced Collaboration is an online platform matching artists’ practices and creating a space for cross disciplinary collaborations.

EUROPE 

THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN WARSAW: CONTEMPLATION IN THE TIME OF PANDEMIC #2

In the time of pandemic the art historian and audio describer Marta Przasnek is sharing instructions, which can be followed anywhere at any time, not necessarily in front of a computer screen. The exercises are to help you in developing a caring attitude toward yourself, others and the planet.

 

CONNECT / LEARN

UK

EATING AT THE SAME TABLE: PHANTASY SATURDAY SCHOOL

A month-long online course in the legacy of the Saturday Supplementary school, prioritising Black and BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Colour) artists, researchers, writers, curators and those interested in the arts, presented by 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning and Eating At the Same Table. 

COVE PARK: CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY SHEETS

Every Saturday during the school holidays Cove Park will release a new Activity Sheet. These Sheets have been carefully put together by selected artists with Cove Park to provide a fun project that can be done on your own or with the whole family. 

NEW ART EXCHANGE: ONLINE ACTIVITIES

Fun activities for everyone, from creative challenges to Satuday art clubs

MIMA MAKING 

Online art classes with a digital illustrator 

AREBYTE - DIGITAL ART CLUB

Digital Art Club - Drawing with Code with aritst Edward Martin is an online workshop for kids ages 8+. In these fun and friendly workshops, Edward teaches the basics of how to code using Javascript (the coding language used to build the internet).

PERFORMANCE EXCHANGE

Online conversations from Performance Exchange: A dispersed performance programme in commercial galleries. 

CONNECTING CLASSROOMS

A new resource of three fun challenges for students aged 7-11 using the British Council Collection and featuring works by Grayson Perry, David Shrigley and Anya Gallacio. 

IKON

Family Activities to try at Home including Ikon's Art Explorer Packs made for each exhibition for kids to try at home

Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange

Lunchtime School is open to all who are curious! Join Newlyn Gallery on alternate Fridays to learn and create with artists and makers followed by informal group discussions

FIRST SITE: ARTIST ACTIVITY PACKS

Stay inspired with Firstsite’s downloadable artist created activity packs for children and young people during lockdown. These packs feature contributions from UK artists including Antony Gormley, Sarah Lucas, Gillian Wearing, Idris Khan, Richard Wentworth, Cornelia Parker, Jeremy Deller, Vanley Burke, Mark Wallinger and more.

EAST ASIA 

CREATE CONNECTS NSW & AUSTRALIA

Learn how art can help and watch Create Connects Arts Webinars: Episode 5: Health and Wellbeing in Lockdown

 

SUPPORT ARTISTS

BLACK BRITISH VISUAL ARTISTS: ARTIST DIRECTORY

A directory of UK-based Black British Artists available for art tutoring, mentoring and collaborative projects, organised by the platform Black British Visual Artists. 

#artistsupportpledge

Follow this hashtag on Instagram to find artwork for sale for no more than £200 (200 USD/200 Euro/ 20,000 JPY plus postage). Every time an artist makes £1,000 ($1,000) in sales they commit 20% on purchasing the work of another artist using the hashtag. There are no enforcements, it is a system based on trust where everyone, at every level can contribute in supporting artists and makers.

2020Solidarity

Famous visual artists have contributed to this poster project launched by Wolfgang Tilmans to raise money for arts and cultural venues. Check it out and nab a poster from the likes of British Council Collection artists such as Yinka Shonibare, Gillian Wearing and Wolfgang Tilmans himself.    

ART TECHNICIANS EMERGENCY FUND

Art technicians are the backbone of Visual Arts and many have lost livelihoods dur to Covid-19 – support them by taking part in this silent auction of fantastic donated artworks from the likes of Collection artists, David Batchelor, Jeremy Deller and past British Council Visual Arts colleagues: Natalie Lazarus.