You might be at home protecting yourself and others from the spread of coronavirus but there is still lots of great stuff online to keep you or your family entertained from the comfort of your couch! Local singers/bands are performing their music on Facebook, Williamson Art Gallery has posted its 2020 exhibition online and there are loads of exciting activities for children to try at home too.
DON'T MISS
1. Liverpool Museum’s are asking artistic 4-11 year old children to get involved in their big lockdown project ‘Home Is My Museum’. Creative children can create their own virtual exhibition all about themselves, design a poster and promotional video - and the best ones will get featured a special online digital exhibition.
2. Williamson Art Gallery & Museum have posted their annual ‘Williamson Open Art & Photography Exhibition’ online for all to enjoy this Spring. This year’s superb collection features portraits, sculptures, local landmarks, a contemporary Liverbird and much more. The exhibition emphasises the amount of artistic talent we have in the borough and you can get involved too by voting for your favourite piece.
3. We’re lucky to have one of the leading zoos in the world right on our doorstep… and the great news is that Chester Zoo is giving you the chance to see all of your favourite animals during their ‘virtual zoo days’. They take place every Friday and feature a different animal each hour from 10am until 4pm. The zoo also has lots of activities and resources for kids that can be downloaded here.
4. If you’re looking for something to read, you can download e-books, magazines and daily newspapers from Wirral Libraries website. Bookworms are also invited to join Wirral Libraries Bookbuzz virtual book club and children can get building at the Virtual Lego Club.
5. Wirral Unplugged provides children and their families with opportunities to unplug from technology, connect with others and most importantly, get creative! Visit their website to enter their ‘Eco Easter’ recycling art project or sign your children up to 'Fairy Troll Post', a craft and activity exchange which fuels children’s imaginations.
And here are a few more ideas to keep you busy:
- My Child Can Facebook page features loads of great videos aimed at children, including ‘Big Dish Little Dish’ cookery classes, storytime and a firm favourite for kids, Messy Play!
- Theatre buffs can enjoy some of the National Theatre’s best-loved productions from their own couch. Currently Jane Eyre, Treasure Island and Shakespeare’s romantic comedy Twelfth Night are available to view.
- If its world-renowned art you are looking for, visit Lady Lever Art Gallery's website where you can admire their ‘Star Objects’ and Wedgwood Collections.
- Classical singer Andrea Bocelli will mark Easter Sunday by singing live from the empty Duomo cathedral in Milan. You can see it live on his Youtube page.
- BBC have pulled together some great live-feeds from around the world, including Tokyo, Times Square and Venice... minus the crowds! Our favourite is a live-feed from on board the International Space Station.
- Wirral's Invigor8 instructors are uploading a series of great exercise videos for people to try at home, to suit all abilities - from yoga and mindfulness to full body workouts.
- Lonely Planet have put together a list of some of the UK’s biggest landmarks that you can visit from the comfort of your sofa, including Buckingham Palace, Stonehenge and Abbey Road Studios.
- If you fancy spending Easter Sunday listening to Pulp's multi-platinum selling album 'A Different Class' from 9pm or New Order's 'Power Corruption & Lies' at 10pm' you're in luck! Charlatans singer Tim Burgess is hosting daily online album parties, featuring the music, the stories and the memories with the people involved.
- Phoebe Waller-Bridge is streaming her live Fleabag show to raise money for the NHS and theatre charities. For a minimum £4 donation you can access for 48 hours the award-winning show.
BACK TO THE FUTURE...
Following on from its huge success last year, Birkenhead's alternative music festival FUTURE YARD will be back in October with indie-pop due SUMMER CAMP already confirmed. Keep an eye on their website to see the full lineup and buy tickets.
Two of Wirral’s most exciting electronic artists Evian Christ (Warp Records) and Forest Swords (Ninja Tune - DJ set), plus Tom Ravenscroft, will be playing on October 17th as part of Future Yard’s ‘Near Future Pop-Up Venue’ at Argyle Street, Birkenhead. Tickets are on sale now.
VIDEO CALLS
Keeping in touch with family and friends has never been so important. But if you aren’t as tech-savvy as you’d like to be, click the links below to find out how to make video calls and see your loved ones faces while you speak to them:
AND FINALLY...
The ‘lockdown’ has a massive impact on our gig venues, theatres and galleries. So when they all re-open, let's all show our support by going along and celebrating the wonderfully diverse range of music and art that we get to enjoy in Wirral.