7 (free) ways to enjoy art and culture at home
You can attend concerts, go to the cinema and explore museums, all from your couch. The EU supports the cultural and creative sectors, including many online activities.
Here are 7 tips for enjoying art and culture from the comfort of your couch.
1. Discover the world of opera with Operavision — the opera streaming platform
Always wanted to experience the masterpieces of Mozart and Puccini? Operavision offers free streams from Europe’s leading opera houses. Each month sees several new releases linked to a special theme. The April programme focuses on Italy — the birthplace of opera.
2. Broaden your literary horizons with the EU Prize for Literature
Looking for something new to read? The EU Prize for Literature celebrates Europe’s best contemporary writers. On the website, you can find and download the works of all winning authors since 2009 (both the original version and the EN translation). Want to discuss your reading experience with others? Join the EUPL online book club, currently focusing on dystopian fiction.
3. Browse quality TV programmes at ARTE
Cultural channel ARTE broadcasts and streams programmes in English, French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish. The offer includes documentaries, drama films and series, music and digital experiences — most of it produced in Europe.
4. Europeana collections – your portal to European art, history and heritage
Bringing together more than 3700 museums, libraries, archives and audio-visual centres across Europe, Europeana offers free access to millions of books, music, artworks and videos. From compelling online exhibitions to quirky blog posts and artsy backgrounds for your videoconference meetings — there’s something for everyone!
5. World Heritage Journeys — explore stellar heritage sites remotely
Most of Europe’s heritage sites are currently closed for visitors, but that doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy their beauty online. This platform lets you choose from 4 different routes: Ancient, Romantic, Royal and Underground Europe. Perfect for future holiday planning and daydreaming.
6. Get into the groove with the Music Moves Europe Talent Awards Charts
Can’t get enough of new music? Have a look at the MME Talent Awards, celebrating Europe’s best up-and-coming artists. Previous winners include Adele, Stromae, Dua Lipa and Rosalia. Their Top 100 chart is updated every Friday and is the perfect soundtrack to your week.
7. A good old movie night
What have ‘Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain’, ‘Call me by your name’, ‘The Favourite’ and ‘Pain and Glory’ in common? They all received funding from the EU! Since 1989 our Creative Europe MEDIA programme has supported Award-winning films, and now is a good moment to catch up on them. Bring popcorn!
To discover more online cultural activities — check out #CreativeEuropeAtHome on Twitter and Instagram.
