Feeling a bit too socially distanced from the wider world lately? We've got some suggestions to jumpstart connections with music, history, dance, and learning—including some for the young people in your life.
They're designed to make sure you continue to enjoy what you've come to value from Smithsonian Associates: programs and experiences that are entertaining, informative, eclectic, and insightful.
A Decade of Disruption
The United States weathered a turbulent first decade of the 21st century, tumultuous years of economic crises, social and technological change, and war. In a June 16 Smithsonian Associates Streaming program, author Garrett Peck examines how the fallout from the Great Recession led to the hyper-polarized society of the years that followed. He also discusses why timely re-examination of the period between 2000 and 2010 can reveal how we've arrived at our current era of cultural division. Peck's appearance launches the newest slate of Smithsonian Associates Streaming programs for June. Hear more from him in a conversation featured on our podcast partner, the Not Old Better Show.
Register for the Program
Listen to the Podcast
Soul Music
"In these days of anxiety, I wanted to find a way to share some of the music that gives me comfort." That's the impulse behind Yo-Yo Ma's newest project, Songs of Comfort. In early March, the renowned cellist, who was a memorable guest at Smithsonian Associates, posted a solo performance of Dvorak's poignant "Going Home" on Twitter, the first in a series tagged #SongsOfComfort. He later extended his offerings to distanced duets and ensemble sessions with musicians and singers all over the world, and other music-makers in a wide range of genres have added their own videos to the repertoire. You can also find a Songs of Comfort playlist curated by Yo-Yo Ma on Spotify.
Listen on Spotify
Posting with Pride
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the New York City Pride March. With Pride events and celebrations cancelled over the world, social media is serving as the platform to spotlight LGBTQ+ culture and history. Stories and objects from across the Smithsonian were shared on Instagram on June 1, tagged #SmithsonianPride. And on June 3, a global #MuseumPrideParade marches onto Twitter, featuring a virtual gallery of artwork, objects, historic ephemera, and more from all parts of the museum world.
Explore the Virtual Pride Parade
Stepping In(doors)
The dance company led by choreographer Mark Morris (another notable Smithsonian Associates guest) is deeply rooted in its Brooklyn community, with local children, teens, and families exploring many forms of dance in its studios. At-home versions of those classes are available on YouTube, offering a great reason to to roll up the rug and get moving in easy-to-do sessions led by company members. (How about a family class to learn a sequence from Morris's Beatles-inspired Pepperland?) There are also free live daily classes in the company's signature Dance for PD program, designed for people living with Parkinson's. Looking for some inspiration to begin? View a just-premiered suite of short video dances Morris crafted for Zoom, including one you can replicate yourself.
View Classes For Children, Teens, and Family
Watch The New Works
Log on for Adventure!
Summer at home just became a lot more fun. Smithsonian Summer Adventures, a new series of weeklong virtual learning experiences, introduces the world of the Smithsonian to young people. Registration is open for more than 50 live interactive adventures offered by Smithsonian Associates June 29 through August 21. The youngest adventurers (K to grade 2) explore a different Smithsonian theme each week—from the oceans to outer space to dinosaurs, and more. Third to 6th-graders step up to the challenge of the Great Smithsonian Caper, discovering amazing museum collections as they follow the trail of a master villain. And teens in grades 7 to 11 can take part in Smithsonian Masterclasses in coding, photography, painting, drawing, comics, and other topics, as well as find a new dimension—a miniature one—in learning about history's most important battles in Soldiers and Dioramas sessions.
Browse Our Adventures
