The best virtual things to do at home in April
Discover the biggest and best things to do online this month
There’s a pretty good chance you’ve been spending just a little more time than usual indoors over the past year or so. Stay-at-home guidelines had most of us confined to our homes for much of 2020 and this looks set to continue well into 2021. That means we’re all pretty much desperate to find new ways to keep ourselves entertained without having to leave the house.
Now, as shutdowns are being reintroduced around the world to fend off a second or third wave, we wouldn’t blame you if you had a little less motivation to seek out new activities to do at home. You’ve exhausted Netflix and Amazon Prime. You’ve made every cocktail you can remember enjoying in an actual, IRL bar. And banana bread, sourdough and Houseparty just aren’t cutting it any more.
Like you, we’re craving totally new, one-off events that are exciting enough to enliven any government-mandated night in. So it’s pretty fortunate that in the brave new iso world, every month comes with a whole host of live-streaming plays, music, talks, films and other online events around the world. More often than not, they’re also available for free. Ready? Here’s our pick of the best virtual things to do at home this month.
RECOMMENDED: 101 best things to do when you’re stuck at home
Best virtual things to do at home in April 2021
1. Turn your flat into a surreal dreamland
Ever wondered what it’s like to see the world through the gaze of a deeply wacky artist? ‘Unfolding Shrines’ is an augmented-reality app that turns your surroundings into distinctive, colourful ‘portals’ into the imaginations of four artists – Jason Welsher-Mills, Sophie Helf, Rebekah Ubuntu and Uma Breakdown. All you need is your phone and you’re good to go. From March 24. Free. Check it out here.
2. See a survey of abstract Latinx art
‘Latinx Abstract’ is a groundbreaking exhibition that asserts the enduring (and overlooked) legacy of abstraction among Latinx artists. The survey of ten artists, including Candida Alvarez, Glendalys Medina and Sarah Zapata, is currently on IRL at New York’s BRIC House, but has also launched live virtual tours for groups on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. From April 1. Free. Find out more here.
3. Pop along to the world’s first virtual museum
Miss exhibitions? Last month, VOMA – the world’s first virtual museum – launched two brand-new online shows bringing together classic artworks from some of the world’s most cherished institutions, from the Musée d'Orsay to the Art Institute of Chicago. The first, ‘Reclaiming the Body’, explores the ‘renewal and restoration of power’ through the lens of the body, and the second, ‘Breaking into Colour’, is a celebration of colour and abstraction in modern art. The shows are accessible via any device. From March 2. Free. Check it out here.
4. Watch a dazzling performance from New York’s Metropolitan Opera
The Met continues its immensely popular rollout of past performances, recorded in HD and viewable for free. A different archival production goes live at 7.30pm every day and remains online for the next 23 hours. This month’s lineup includes works by Verdi, Gounod, Shostakovich, Puccini and Rossini. Every day. Free. Tune in here.
More actually fun things to do at home
101 things to do when you’re stuck at home
This is our ultimate list of things to do indoors – from curated lists of the best movies and greatest podcasts to indoor fitness, online learning, games to play, amazing live-streams to tune in to, and some offbeat activities dreamed up by creative people around the world.