As venues, galleries and cinemas close to prevent the spread of coronavirus, you might feel like you’re not quite getting your usual cultural fix. That’s why we’ve compiled a little guide to a few local arty things happening this week to enjoy while you’re at home.
JOIN AN ONLINE FILM CLUB
Facebook and Twitter groups are taking advantage of Netflix’s new “party feature” add-on, which allows you to watch films and TV shows live with other users. Many have organised weekly film clubs to combat loneliness during this time of social isolation.
Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre are also hosting online group viewing parties while they’re closed, which they post about via their Twitter (@chaptertweets), so keep an eye out there for more at-home events.
The same goes for Cardiff’s horror film festival Fractured Visions (Twitter: @FracVis), who are hosting Netflix watchalongs (#FracVisAtHome).
The Bridgend-based Facebook group Netflix Social Club votes for a different film to watch each Sunday evening from 7.30pm, and then discusses it as it happens.
Can’t find one near you? Start your own!
TAKE PART IN A VIRTUAL PUB QUIZ
Nothing beats a pub quiz – and although it’s probably a lot easier to cheat in an online version, it hasn’t stopped plenty of people hosting them via Facebook and Twitter.
A Gavin & Stacey themed quiz takes places on Wed 25 Mar from 7pm, live-streamed via Facebook on Uncle Bryn’s Cracking Meme Page.
Or sign up to a 1990s Movie Quiz hosted by Neath’s Gwyn Hall on Wednesday evening, also conducted through Facebook Live.
LIVE STREAM A GIG
Plenty of bands and artists are now turning to online platforms in order to bring the joy of live music to a now-housebound crowd.
This week, the Cardiff-based record label and shop Stereo Brain Records (recently opened at Castle Emporium, Womanby Street) have launched a daily radio show from 4pm, available to stream via Twitch along with some live DJ sets. If you’re a self-employed musician/artist/music industry person, you can participate in their phone-in.
For metalheads, Japanese ultra-heavy band Friendship were supposed to play Cardiff’s The Moon last night, but they’re hosting a live-streamed gig on Wed 25 Mar via YouTube from 10pm.
WALES ARTS REVIEW’S DIGITHON FESTIVAL
Fri 27-Sun 29 March
Festival season might be looking bleak this year, but Wales Arts Review aren’t going down without a fight. They have launched a unique digital arts festival called Digithon taking place online this weekend, with three days of music, literature, art and performance.
With homemade content recorded via phones and webcams from the nation’s best artists, writers and performers, the festival hopes to raise money for freelancers and creatives now out of work due to coronavirus.
Want to get involved? Send your idea to them via social media or email them at [email protected] or [email protected]. They are also raising money to create emergency bursaries for freelance artists, writers and performers affected by the coronavirus crisis, which you can donate to here.
Are you organising an online event? Let us know at [email protected].
words SAM PRYCE
