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Virtual Tours, Story Times And Other Online Activities Offered By Pittsburgh-Area Organizations

Katie Blackley
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90.5 WESA
A number of Pittsburgh organizations, including Row House Cinema, have created virtual film series or other online activities for patrons during the stay-at-home order.

A number of Pittsburgh-area museums, galleries and organizations are hosting virtual tours or performances throughout the next few weeks. From coloring books to artist talks to virtual scavenger hunts, here are some of the local offerings:

 

Venues and museums:

August Wilson African American Cultural Center: watch virtual tours of current exhibits and periodic events streaming on the group’s Facebook page.

Heinz History Center: “History at Home” virtual tours of exhibits are available, as well as blogs, podcasts and videos about Pittsburgh history.

Children’s Museum: resources are available on how to talk to kids about coronavirus, as well as homemade craft templates and activities

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh: the library system has a virtual lineup of events, including book reviews, genealogy tips, storytimes and book clubs.

Credit Carnegie Museum of Natural History
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Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Carnegie Museum of Natural History: “Museum from Home” resources are available, which include “Ask a Scientist” videos, how to draw animals and how to observe nature in your background. Educator resources are also available.

Andy Warhol Museum: “Learn / Read / Watch” the legacy of Andy Warhol, including drawing lessons, Warhol and Bowie memories and the museum’s many Silver Studio sessions.

Nationality Rooms at the Cathedral of Learning: while in-person tours have been canceled, people can read and watch short videos about each of the nationality rooms online.

Center for Postnatural History: the museum has a number of posts that explain the “collection of living, preserved, and documented organisms of postnatural origin.”

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum: several blog posts are available online for people to learn about the region’s wartime history from the Civil War to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Roberto Clemente Museum: information about the life and legacy of Pittsburgh Pirates great Roberto Clementeis available on the organization’s website.

Bicycle Heaven: virtual tours of the cycling haven are available online.

National Aviary: watch the Peregrine Falcon cam, partake in educational activitiesabout the birds at the facility and have fun with some CyBIRD learning.

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: online classes, virtual environmental films, storytimes and discussions are available on the organization’s website.

City of Asylum: the group's new page, The Show Must Go On(line) includes virtual programming to "connect artists and audiences."

Art:

Public art in Pittsburgh: the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council offers downloadable walking tours of public art throughout the city. 

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Creative Connections: the arts education sessions include virtual learning tools for viewers who can create visual art or music at home.

Project Art: the lessons, typically taught at local libraries, are available for families on Facebook Live most Tuesdays at 3 p.m. and on Youtube most Thursdays at 3 p.m

Credit Katie Blackley / 90.5 WESA
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90.5 WESA

Miller Gallery: “Remote Control,” a new e-publication sounding out artists on the new post-coronavirus world, is available online.

Mattress Factory: virtual tours of six exhibits are online, as well as conversations with artists about their work.

Carnegie Museum of Art: virtual tours of current exhibits are available. 

The Frick Pittsburgh: the museum has kids’ activities from preschool to high school available online, as well as virtual tours, curators’ talks and streaming events.

Randyland: the outdoor arthouse can be seen by walking around it--just stay socially distanced from others and don’t touch the art.

Bayernhof Museum: images of the collection of Chuck Brown can be seen online.

Contemporary Craft: many of the gallery’s exhibitions, interviews with artists and hands-on art activities are online.

Pittsburgh Glass Center: the facility’s Silica Valley Glass art exhibition is available virtually, including a 360-degree tour.

Westmoreland Museum of Art: the space offers art activities to do from home, tours of artist’s studios and virtual tours of exhibitions.

Pennsylvania Trolley Museum: the museum has a virtual scavenger hunt available where views have to find the hidden Golden Trolley.

Fort LIgonier and Braddock’s Battlefield History Center: coloring books, instructions to design a fort and history lessons are available online. 

The Murals of Maxo Vanka: the space has a number of photos in its online gallery and occasional virtual tours.

Performances:

Alone Together with WYEP: this Facebook group includes music recommendations by WYEP staffers, as well as discussions with artists and live-streamed performances.

Liberty Magic: the groups Liberty Magic @ Home series features livestreamed sessions with world-renowned magicians every Friday beginning April 24 at 7:30 p.m. on Facebook and YouTube.

City Theatre: listen to an audio performance of the new play “PerKup PerKup

Credit Alone Together WYEP Facebook
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Alone Together WYEP Facebook

Kelly-Strayhorn Theater: KST Global Stream is a series of performances and talks with arts leaders and more.

Pittsburgh Opera: daily videos from past productions and more are available through the Opera’s Intermezzo series.

Pittsburgh Public Theater: online reading series Playtime features classic plays (like “A Doll’s House”) and more are available.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra: the group’s “Extraordinary Measures” series includes weekly Friday concerts and educational offerings.

Harris Theater: the space’s “@ Home” series includes live streams on international and documentary films.

Arcade Comedy Theater: A Penny Arcade show will be live-streamed, and patrons can also watch live streams of comedy shows on certain weekends.

Festivals and special events:

 

EQT Children's Festival: The digital festival takes place Thu., May 14, through Sun, May 17, online. Included are live interactive shows and workshops, and more than 40 free activities designed for families to complete together. Highlights include free access to the New York International Children’s Film Festival, improv comedy by Arcade Comedy Theater’s Penny Arcade, and a Live Virtual Open Mic with Sunburst School of Music.

Art All Night Pittsburgh: the annual festival will be an online art show provided free for 22 hours. The event features original artwork, activities for children and entertainment. 

Pittsburgh Irish Festival: the cultural celebration is offering live-streams of performances of musicians and comedians on the group’s Facebook page.

Small Mall: the arts group is hosting their Tiny Talks events virtually on their Facebook page.

Britsburgh: the cultural group has virtual programming available, including a week of Shakespeare online.

Brookline Teen Outreach: the organization has planned a virtual dance party at the end of April.

Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures: some of the scheduled talks will be available on the organization’s Facebook page.

Shalom Pittsburgh: the group is hosting a virtual Zoom lesson on mixology.

Row House Cinema: viewers can buy avirtual ticket for films to stream online.

What are we missing? Reach out here.

Katie Blackley is a digital editor/producer for 90.5 WESA and 91.3 WYEP, where she writes, edits and generates both web and on-air content for features and daily broadcast. She's the producer and host of our Good Question! series and podcast. She also covers history and the LGBTQ community. kblackley@wesa.fm