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Enjoy works by local artists in our virtual Lasher Gallery, tour museums and installations around the world, and shop local while you #StayAtHome.

GALLERIES, MUSEUMS, and experiences

★ ART GALLERIES ★

THE LASHER GALLERY AT WICA, LANGLEY

This month, we’re featuring works by local artists Nancy Frances, Heidi Hoelting, Gail Liston, Liesel Lund, Janet McGregor, and Ginny O'Neill.

Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg

Johannesburg Browse more than 500 works from Africa's largest art gallery. The museum houses plenty of works form Dutch and other European artists, but it also offers an array of works from South African artists. For a more historical angle, browse their online exhibit about the role of photography and resistance in the era of Apartheid.

MUSÉE D’ORSAY, PARIS

You can virtually walk through this popular gallery that houses dozens of famous works from French artists who worked and lived between 1848 and 1914. Get a peek at artworks from Monet, Cézanne, and Gauguin, among others.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, WASHINGTON, D.C.

This famous American art museum features two online exhibits. The first is an exhibit of American fashion from 1740 to 1895, including many renderings of clothes from the colonial and Revolutionary eras. The second is a collection of works from Dutch Baroque painter Johannes Vermeer.

National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.

The intimate nature of portraiture makes this museum a particularly great option for a home browse. Our suggestion: Now's the time to take a closer look at the Obama portraits everyone raves about.

UFFIZI GALLERY, FLORENCE

This less well-known gallery houses the art collection of one of Florence, Italy’s most famous families, the de'Medicis. The building was designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1560 specifically for Cosimo I de'Medici, but anyone can wander its halls from anywhere in the world.

★ MUSEUMS ★

African American History and Culture, Washington, D.C.

If you've ever wanted to visit an extremely popular museum but couldn't seem to nab tickets, a virtual tour is the next best thing! This one gives you just a taste of what the museum has to offer, and where in the museum each feature is located.

BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON

This iconic museum located in the heart of London allows virtual visitors to tour the Great Court and discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies. You can also find hundreds of artifacts on the museum’s virtual tour.

GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM, NEW YORK

Begin your tour the Guggenheim’s famous spiral staircase. From there, you can discover incredible works of art from the Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Modern, and Contemporary eras.

MASP, SÃO PAULO

The Museu de Arte de São Paulo is a non-profit and Brazil’s first modern museum. Artworks placed on clear perspex frames make it seem like the artwork is hovering in midair. Take a virtual tour to experience the wondrous display for yourself.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY, MEXICO CITY

Built in 1964, this museum is dedicated to the archaeology and history of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic heritage. There are 23 exhibit rooms filled with ancient artifacts, including some from the Mayan civilization.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART, SEOUL

One of Korea’s popular museums can be accessed from anywhere around the world. This virtual tour takes you through six floors of Contemporary art from Korea and all over the globe.

PERGAMON MUSEUM, BERLIN

As one of Germany’s largest museums, Pergamon has a lot to offer – even if you can’t physically be there. This historical museum is home to plenty of ancient artifacts including the Ishtar Gate of Babylon and, of course, the Pergamon Altar.

RIJKSMUSEUM, AMSTERDAM

Explore the masterworks from the Dutch Golden Age, including works from Vermeer and Rembrandt.

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM, SEATTLE

SAM”s long-running “Object of the Week” blog series features women artists throughout Women’s History Month.

THE J. PAUL GETTY MUSEUM, LOS ANGELES

European artworks from as far back as the 8th Century can be found in this California art museum. Discover a huge collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, manuscripts, and photographs.

VAN GOGH MUSEUM, AMSTERDAM

Anyone who is a fan of this tragic, ingenious painter can see his works up close (or, almost up close) by virtually visiting this museum – the largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh, including over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and over 750 personal letters.

★ ART EXPERIENCES ★

Kusama's Infinity mirrors

If you missed one of the hottest traveling museum exhibits of the past few years, ooh and ahh at a brisk room-by-room rundown of the hypnotic, multi-faceted work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.

Banksy Murals around the world

Go on an artistic treasure hunt -- without the hunt part. With something like street art, it's much more interesting to see the work it its full context, than just through a close-up.

Van Gogh's Starry Night at moma

These close-up looks at famous paintings are so intense, you may think a docent will start yelling at you. Few paintings are suited to such a treatment than the bold, textured lines of The Starry Night.

Street Art tours

Explore the stories behind street art across the world with audio-guided tours and online exhibitions, offered by the Google Cultural Institute.

LET US KNOW IF YOU FIND OTHER VIRTUAL GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS!

YOUR SUPPORT TODAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

As a nonprofit arts organization, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts relies on support from our community. Please consider the role that art plays in your life and support your center with a gift of any amount today.

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HUMANITIES Guest User HUMANITIES Guest User

HUMANITIES

Revisit Whidbey WOW moments, view short films for curious minds, and help us build a community Reading List.

Since 1996, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts has presented events with leading figures in the world of art, film, literature, music, politics, and theatre.

There have been countless lectures and onstage conversations -- and a few surprise performances -- offering diverse perspectives about the forces that impact our culture.

Our Humanities Series is a program designed to continue the tradition of sharing big ideas and to introduce our community to the influencers and thought leaders shaping our society. — Verna Everitt, WICA Executive Director

#READALETTER

Since 2013, Letters Live has been inviting performers to bring letters to life in memorable venues around the world.

BOOK CLUB

Audible has made hundreds of titles completely free to help during coronavirus crisis.

Getty Publications Virtual Library offers more than 300 of its books to read and download for free.

Met Publications (Metropolitan Museum of Art) has 50+ years of publications available to read, download, or search for free.

Sno-Isle Libraries' physical doors may be closed, but their online libraries are always open!

Pandemic Literature: A Meta-List of the Books You Should Read Now

FILM SOCIETY

BBC Ideas: The latest short films for curious minds

SCIENCE

NASA has made its entire media library publicly accessible. It’s 140,000 photos and other resources available for you to see, or even download and use it any way you like.

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

National Poetry Month was launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996 to remind us that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters. Learn how we can celebrate together.

WHIDBEY WOW! STORIES

We launched our WOW! Stories in 2012 to celebrate of the extraordinary lives and experiences of the Women of Whidbey. Learn more here.

Tell us what you’re reading and we’ll add it to the list!

YOUR SUPPORT TODAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

As a nonprofit arts organization, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts relies on support from our community. Please consider the role that art plays in your life and support your center with a gift of any amount today.

Read More
MUSIC Guest User MUSIC Guest User

MUSIC

Check out streaming events, podcasts, vintage Rural Characters, and help create a community Playlist.

MUSICAL EXPERIENCES

SARATOGA ORCHESTRA, LANGLEY

Local musicians perform daily “mini-concerts” in the orchestra’s Virtual Concert Hall.

BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER, BERLIN

The Berliner Philharmoniker invite you to visit their virtual concert hall free of charge. “We hope that through this initiative we can give pleasure to as many people as possible with our music.

THE METROPOLITAN OPERA, NEW YORK

“Nightly Met Opera Streams” is a free series of encore Live in HD presentations. Programming includes Carmen, La Bohème, La Traviata, and more.

SEATTLE OPERA, SEATTLE

On stage it may be dark, but they are working on lots of different ways to bring you the art form you love. Here's what they have ready so far to enjoy from the comfort of your sofa: Opera Time at the Opera Center, Top Ten Playlist, Opera Talks with dramaturg Jonathan Dean, and Seattle Opera Podcast.

SEATTLE SYMPHONY, SEATTLE

The musicians of the Seattle Symphony have generously volunteered to share free broadcasts with everyone during this time of uncertainty.

#TogetherAtHome Concert Series

The World Health Organization and Global Citizen launched the Together At Home sessions to benefit their Solidarity Response Fund, which is raising money for preparedness and response efforts to fight the coronavirus outbreak. The at-home concerts notably offer music fans stuck at home the chance to gather in a virtual space now that the coronavirus has caused a slew of tour and festival cancellations throughout the world.

YO-YO MA SOLO CELLO #SONGSOFCOMFORT

“In these days of anxiety, I wanted to find a way to continue to share some of the music that gives me comfort.”

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S Virtual Music Lounge

Expedition ethnomusicologist, Jacob Edgar, has curated a series of exclusive, live concerts featuring musicians from the world over. Discover new talent and fresh sounds, or perhaps, see familiar faces.

LET US KNOW IF YOU FIND OTHER MUSICal PERFORMANCES or experiences!

FROM OUR LIBRARY

The Rural Characters and special guests performing in Locals for Locals concerts.

MORE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES CAN BE FOUND ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

Tell us what you’re listening to and we’ll add it to the list.

YOUR SUPPORT TODAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

As a nonprofit arts organization, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts relies on support from our community. Please consider the role that art plays in your life and support your center with a gift of any amount today.

Read More
THEATRE Guest User THEATRE Guest User

THEATRE

Select plays and musicals to watch from home, queue up stage-to-screen gems, and marvel at "Great Performances."

THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES

ALL THE INTERNET’S A STAGE

A roundup of streaming theater that covers classics and new shows, endearingly DIY webcasts, and slick Broadway extravaganzas.

NATIONAL THEATRE, LONDON

The National Theatre has an incredible archive of cinema-quality recordings of stage plays thanks to its formidable NT Live program. Beginning in April, NT will release a new play every Thursday on YouTube. The productions will be FREE to watch for one week and accompanied by bonus content including Q&As and post-stream talks.

15 BROADWAY PLAYS AND MUSICALS YOU CAN WATCH ON STAGE FROM HOME

While it used to be a rare treat when a Broadway show was filmed live on stage, it’s becoming more and more common today—great news for Broadway fans. Here’s an ever-growing list of productions available to watch wherever you are.

THE 15 BEST STAGE-TO-SCREEN MOVIE ADAPTATIONS

In the 20th century, American theater entered into a golden age not seen since the days of Shakespeare. Audiences flocked to see the latest stage dramas, as did Hollywood producers. Long before the ilk of Hairspray, Shrek, and Legally Blond attracted tourist audiences, Hollywood used to look to Broadway for movie fodder.

“GREAT PERFORMANCES” ON KCTS 9

PBS brings the best in the performing arts from across America and around the world to our living rooms: classical music, opera, popular song, musical theater, dance, drama, and performance documentaries.

SHAKESPEARE FOR FREE | GLOBE PLAYER

Shakespeare's Globe is sharing their productions, original theatre trailers, scenes from the plays, and interviews.

LET US KNOW IF YOU FIND OTHER WAYS TO WATCH A SHOW!

FROM OUR LIBRARY

DISCOVER MORE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

YOUR SUPPORT TODAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

As a nonprofit arts organization, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts relies on support from our community. Please consider the role that art plays in your life and support your center with a gift of any amount today.

Read More
ART, DANCE, HUMANITIES, MUSIC, THEATRE Guest User ART, DANCE, HUMANITIES, MUSIC, THEATRE Guest User

During Economic Highs and Lows, the Arts Are Key Segment of U.S. Economy

“…arts and culture contributes $877.8 billion (or 4.5%) to the nation’s gross domestic product…”

According to data issued by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (March 17, 2020) and the National Endowment for the Arts, the arts remain a vital component of the U.S. economy. As the United States navigates a time of economic uncertainty due to the spread of COVID-19, it is important to recognize and champion the economic contributions of the arts to all 50 states, the U.S. territories, and the nation as a whole.

The sixth edition of the “Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account” (ACPSA) finds that arts and culture contributed $877.8 billion (or 4.5%) to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017. That same year, there were over 5 million wage‐and‐salary workers employed in the arts and cultural sector, earning a total of $405 billion. Complete national findings are available including an interactive infographic and data tables.

Arts and cultural production accounts for $44,302,905,650 and 8.4% of the Washington STATE economy, contributing 167,004 jobs.

The ACPSA tracks the annual economic impact of arts and cultural production from 35 industries, both commercial and nonprofit. The 35 industries that are tracked range from architectural services to sound recording and are considered a distinct sector of the nation’s economy. With the outbreak of COVID-19, many arts organizations and venues like Whidbey Island Center for the Arts — theaters, concert halls, museums, studios, festivals, and galleries — have shut their doors until further notice from public health officials.

“Earned income accounts for a substantial share of the bottom line of most nonprofit arts organizations,” Sunil Iyengar, director of Research & Analysis at the Arts Endowment, said. “During economic downturns, the sector is acutely vulnerable — in terms of earned income, but also in fundraising. Given the lean operating budgets of such organizations, these losses can have an outsized impact, leading to fewer jobs in arts industries, and in the businesses that supply them.”

Key National Findings

As arts venues close, it will be important to monitor the impact on ticket sales.

  • In 2017, consumers spent $26.5 billion on admissions to performing arts events, including $17 billion on theater/musical theater/opera performances and $3.7 billion on music groups and artists (e.g., jazz, rock, and country music performances).

Arts industries that contribute the most value to the nation’s GDP are also highly reactive to swings in business cycles including:

  • Performing arts companies

  • Independent artists, writers, and performers

  • Arts‐related retail trade (for example museum stores and art galleries)

Even as the sector continues to respond to market forces, it is worth noting that arts and culture contribute significantly to the U.S. economy.

The arts and cultural sector add more to the economy than do construction, transportation, and warehousing combined.

  • The value added by arts and culture to the U.S. economy is five times greater than the value from the agricultural sector.

  • Arts and culture added more to the U.S. economy than construction, transportation, and warehousing by $87 billion and $265 billion respectively.

The sector has shown capacity for rapid growth.

  • Between 2015 and 2017, the arts and cultural sector grew at more than twice the rate of the total U.S. economy—at nearly 4.45 percent, in terms of annual average growth rate.

  • Among high-growth arts industries are performing arts presenters, arts-related construction, and publishing.

Key State Findings

On a state level, the arts and cultural sector added $72.8 billion to the economies of rural states—i.e., states in which 30 percent or more of the population live in rural areas, equaling 18 states.

Six states significantly surpassed the average national growth rate of 5.6 percent for the period 2015-2017: Washington, California, Nevada, Utah, Georgia, and Massachusetts.

United States             $877,809** 5.6%***

Washington                 $44,303 13.7%

California                   $230,298 9.9%

Nevada                          $8,738 9.4%

Utah                              $7,214 8.6%

Georgia                       $24,407 7.6%

Massachusetts           $25,805 7.2%

** Arts and cultural value added for 2017 (in millions)

*** Average annual growth rate of value added: 2015-2017

SOURCE: National Endowment for the Arts

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