Explore the Virtual Brooklyn Cultural District
While we await a return to “normal life,” organizations have expanded their offerings to the virtual realm.
April 14, 2020
In addition to streaming classes and performances, many organizations in the Brooklyn Cultural District have opened up their archives for your enjoyment. Here’s a sampling of what’s available:
Love From BAM is the institution’s new virtual programming arm. Dive into the Leon Levy BAM Digital Archive with performances, events, and interviews from the institution’s vibrant history or get a front seat at new, first run films.
On May 1, Bang on a Can launched Canland, an all-access virtual archives, covering their 33 years in existence.
BOMB has an extensive list of online tools, opportunities, workshops, and livestreams to keep you company and engaged.
From BRIC, in addition to their virtual events and tours, you can stream past performances, watch their community TV channel and digital network, BRIC TV, or Brooklyn’s Public Access initiative Brooklyn Free Speech TV.
In addition to virtual visits and workshops, part of The Brooklyn Navy Yard’s archives are available online.
Brooklyn Historical Society has made available recordings of past public programs, digital exhibitions, podcasts, plus photo-of-the-week and blog posts. They are also actively collecting material related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to document and preserve the collective experiences in Brooklyn during the crisis. They request you share your COVID-19 thoughts and stories, as well as items you’ve collected during this crisis.
Brooklyn Public Library’s Remote Resources provide the opportunity to check out e-books, read the news and magazines, learn a new language, plus more.
ISSUE Project Room maintains an archive of hundreds of published video and audio recordings of recent and historic work, including their new Isolated Field Recording Series, which asks artists to produce field recordings during this challenging time.
The Center for Fiction offers book recommendations, writing tools, interviews with authors, essays, podcasts, and videos.
Mark Morris Dance Group has opened the MMDG Digital Library, where you can enjoy excerpts of your favorite Mark Morris works, behind the scenes moments, and interviews.
MoCADA Digital delivers art and social justice news, exclusive museum notes, podcasts, playlists, workshop recordings, and more about and from the African diaspora.
New York Transit Museum has thousands of photographs, posters, maps, and artifacts at its Online Collection Database.
Roulette at Home, the institution’s digital archive, features over 4,000 performances dating back to 1978, with audio and video recordings, photos, notes, programs, posters, and ephemera.
StoryCorps Connect, is a digital version of its mobile recording booths. Using the same blueprint of a StoryCorps booth interview, the conversations take place over video chat. Interview a loved one or scan their website for their stories (some animated!).
Check out Witness’ online library, with tips on best practices, planning, filming, storytelling, and post-production work.
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Thanks for visiting the virtual Brooklyn Cultural District! And be sure to regularly check the Downtown Brooklyn Events page for all the latest offerings from the district!
