Exploring art from afar

Finding ways to experience art while practicing social distancing 

As everyone knows at this point, the coronavirus has brought business as usual to a grinding halt. With school closures, state-wide lockdowns and social-distancing protocols in place, it makes sense that galleries and museums are seen as “non-essential” facets of the new normal. However, it is times like these that highlight the importance of art and the museums that house carefully constructed and exquisite exhibits. 

Though major museums across the United States and the world have been forced to close their doors to the public for the time being, many have gone digital in hopes of still being able to bring joy into the lives of those trapped at home. A great resource for those looking to expand their artistic and cultural horizons during this pandemic is Google Arts & Culture, which is how many of these museums were able to bring their collections online. Using their street view tools among others, Google Arts & Culture features virtual tours of museums and cultural landmarks alike. So instead of pressing “next episode” on Netflix, open a new browser and explore some of the world-famous exhibits that are now being made available to the public, for free. 

National Museums 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)

This New York City institution has been forced to close its doors to the masses for the first time in who knows how long, but luckily the Met has a well-established website of online resources that make exploring this museum’s massive collection a breeze. Under the “online features” tabs, visitors can find resources like MetCollects and the Met 360 project. Browse works of art remotely, or watch one of the six short videos featured in the Met 360 project that display some of the museum’s most popular collections. 

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History 

Located in Washington D.C., the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History has consistently been one of the most visited museums in the entire world. Like the Met, they are now closed to the public, but this doesn’t mean they’ve stopped showing off their collections. The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive virtual tour of the museum that allows visitors to enjoy the abundance of natural history from their couches. With 360 views and a comprehensive guide to some of the most popular exhibits, the Smithsonian’s tour is without a doubt one of the most elaborate online. 

The Guggenheim

As another museum that dominates the New York art scene, the Guggenheim has been proactive in making their unique architecture available to tour virtually for all. Partnering with Google Arts & Culture, the Guggenheim utilizes the Google “street view” tool to show off the building’s abstract design. Digital visitors can click around the building and get a chance to experience the architecture that has made this museum famous remotely. 

International Museums 

The Louvre

Known to be one of the most packed museums in the world, visitors can see the closing and social distancing of the Louvre as a benefit, rather than a downfall. Explore one of the most famous museums certainly in France, and in all of Europe, without any crowds, lines, or international travel. Though their online tour collections aren’t as extensive as some other museums, the Louvre offers online visitors the chance to explore their Egyptian Antiques collection, moat and their Gallerie d’Appollon, all for free. 

The Sistine Chapel

Housed in one of the most impacted countries in the world right now, those at the Sistine Chapel have tried to bring some good out of the major closures in Italy by making the interior artwork of the Sistine Chapel available to all online. Known for the gorgeous ceiling artwork, painted by the renowned Michalangelo, this virtual tour allows international visitors a glance at the exceptional artwork Italy houses