Plan a Virtual Culture Trip for this Holiday Break
Visits to museums and cultural landmarks traditionally provide a great escape from day-to-day routines or an opportunity for families to spend time together over the holidays. This year does not have to be an exception. Our free Bloomberg Connects app provides a digital passport to culture, making it easy to access and engage with many arts and cultural institutions in New York City and London from the comfort of your home.
With more than 15 institutions on the app, the guide features walking tours, sensory experiences, podcasts, meditations, activities for children and families, and over 2,000 works of art. It also includes resources to enhance a touchless and socially distanced experience for those planning safe in-person visits to open institutions.
Download the Bloomberg Connects app today to access interactive digital guides from these and other cultural organizations this holiday season:
Explore Migration, Identity and Belonging at Dulwich Picture Gallery
Dulwich Picture Gallery, the world’s first purpose-built public art gallery, features some of the UK’s most innovative exhibitions alongside a world class collection of paintings. The new exhibit, “Journey,” explores the nature of migration from the 17th century to today. Users can learn how the exhibit was shaped around the personal and diverse stories of the curators—aged 29 to 69—whose combined heritage spans eight countries including Pakistan, Italy, Ireland, Sri Lanka, and Yemen.
Step Back in Time at the Frick’s International Galleries
The Frick Collection in New York City is internationally renowned for its Old Master paintings and outstanding examples of European sculpture and decorative arts. The Frick’s Bloomberg Connects guide includes virtual tours and audio guides of all galleries in addition to exclusive collections that offer visitors a chance to take a deeper dive into topics ranging from monsters, to timeless jewelry, to historical hats.
App visitors can also watch selections from the Frick’s video series, including guided tours of historic sites, curator-led happy hours (including themed cocktail recipes), and a special series commemorating the centennial of U.S. women’s right to vote.
Learn About the Life and Work of an Iconic Artist at the Noguchi Museum
Founded and designed by Japanese American artist and landscape architect Isamu Noguchi, the Noguchi Museum in New York City is the first museum in the United States established by a living artist to show their own work. Bloomberg Connects app users can see and hear from Noguchi himself, view the work he describes, and virtually visit current exhibitions, including “Futura Akari,” which showcases Noguchi’s beautiful lanterns; and “Body–Spaces Devices,” a collection of sculptures.
Contemplate New Art and Ideas at the Serpentine Galleries
Since 1970, the Serpentine Galleries in London have presented pioneering exhibitions from emerging as well as internationally recognized artists. Through the Bloomberg Connects app, visitors can listen to “Serpentine Podcast: Back to Earth,” an eight-part podcast series that follows artists and art organizations that are developing projects, interventions, and campaigns at the crossroads of art and the climate emergency.
App visitors are also invited to an exclusive online exhibition celebrating the 91st birthday of British Ghanaian photographer James Barnor, ahead of his much-anticipated spring exhibition. Those interested in engaging more directly with art and artists can follow DIY instructions for creative projects provided by artists spanning music, poetry, fashion, and design as part of Serpentine’s long running do it initiative. Additionally, users can dive into Jennifer Packer’s new exhibit, “Jennifer Packer: The Eye Is Not Satisfied With Seeing,” which raises timely and essential discussions on race, representation, and art history.
For Plant Lovers, Visit the New York Botanical Garden’s Spectacular Holiday Lights
The New York Botanical Garden’s (NYBG) storied gardens and landscapes highlight the beauty of nature. The organization also offers comprehensive education programs in horticulture and plant science, and Bloomberg Connects users can enhance their in-person or virtual visits to these spectacular gardens with audio tours, detailed plant images, and background information available through the app.
This winter, the NYBG GLOW exhibit featured on Bloomberg Connects bathes the Garden in thousands of colorful, dazzling lights. Streaming lights highlight unique forms in nature including spectacular branching on trees, winter greens and even pollen. Nature’s own decorations, like nocturnal plants that shine bright, and holiday decorations and lights will be accompanied by festive music.
Walk The Line in London
For those looking to spend some time outdoors, The Line is London’s first dedicated public art walk, which passes through three of the most diverse boroughs in the UK. The Line’s Bloomberg Connects guide includes fun resources for users of all ages that both enhance an in-person visit and help virtual visitors feel like they’re experiencing the city. App users can hear legendary actor Bill Nighy describe The Line’s history, architecture, and wildlife, listen to exclusive audio from exhibited artists, and relax with a selection of specially commissioned mindfulness guides designed to promote wellbeing and create a deeper connection with the surroundings.
Other institutions on the guide include the Benjamin Franklin House, Black Cultural Archives, Camden Art Centre, Central Park Conservancy, Drawing Center, the Guggenheim Museum, the Imperial War Museum – Duxford, the London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE, MoMA PS1, and Whitechapel Gallery.
Download the Bloomberg Connects app for free via the App Store or Google Play. Stay tuned for more updates about Bloomberg Connects over the coming months as the app grows to include digital resources from many more exciting cultural institutions around the world.