Entering into a week where we know the cultural institutions are shut and where we cannot close the physical and geographical divides through traditional forms of cultural expression, we must investigate the Digital PlaceShaping experience.

During this time, we will share our thinking, the research and experiments of our international associates, and highlight efforts of strategic and artist-led initiatives cropping up. Find our Team’s Picks in our blog post here.

Futurecity is looking for new ideas, new spaces and changing behaviours, the list below is just a glimpse into the many ways culture has been germinating in the digital sphere and will be updated as we go along. If you know of any other initiatives, we’d love to hear from you. 
Tag @futurecityblog (Twitter, Instagram) and #DigitalPlaceshaping so that we can share with our network instantly.

  • Virtual work designed for remote access
    • Acute Art (App)
    • Art Remotely Google Sheet by Emily Medd, updated daily
    • Lawrence Abu Hamdan has uploaded low res exports of his last three films on YouTube until the venues that were planning to screen them can reopen: Walled Unwalled (2018), Once Removed (2019), Rubber Coated Steel (2016)
    • Dr.Corona Online by Ye Funa, an interactive online work
    • Daata commissions original, digital artworks by established and emerging artists, allowing one to stream or download high-quality digital artworks on any device
  • Theatres who have made their content available online
    • Metropolitan Opera “Nightly Met Opera Streams” (free) 
    • On the Boards (free) 
    • Broadway HD (paid)
    • Digital Theatre (paid) 
    • All Arts (free) 
    • Audible Theatre offers Off-Broadway sound recordings (paid)
    • Marquee TV showcases plays from the likes of RSC, Shakespeare’s Globe (paid)
    • A range of recordings available via Amazon Prime & Netflix (paid)
    • Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage – dance performances and workshops (free)
    • “Bubble by Kieran Hurley, a play set entirely on Facebook, online until 23 April (free)
    • LIVR is a subscription service that enables you to catch up on theatre in 360-degree virtual reality (paid)
    • BBC’s virtual arts festival ‘Culture in Quarantine’ is currently being coordinated in close consultation and collaboration with the Arts Council England and many others (coming soon)
  • Other initiatives
    • Artist Residency from your own home by Kone Foundation
    • CONNECT, BTS a global project to connect five cities and twenty-two artists
    • In.oscillation by Site Projects, an exploration into economies of care, open submission of sound and text works
    • Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage – free dance performances and workshops
    • National Gallery X – creative R&D that explores the future of art (Ali Hossaini, Futurecity Associate, serves as a co-director)
    • Shaun the Sheep immersive experience (coming soon), an initiative led by Future Associate Richard Koeck, Director of CAVA
    • ‘If These Walls Could Talk’ at St George’s Hall, an immersive mixed reality experience, led by Future Associate Richard Koeck, Director of CAVA and Peter Woodbridge
    • Residency Unlimited: Food Futures, artist residency, now happening virtually; directed and curated by Curator and Writer Livia Alexander, who is a Futurecity Associate
    • digital archive of talks and discussions held at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, during the period 1982-1993, featuring leading writers, artists and filmmakers

Cover photo: Google Arts & Culture