What to do in quarantine? Platforms that have opened up free access

Following Moscow, other Russian cities began to resort to quarantine measures because of the coronavirus. Some people were glad to be home at last, while others found self-isolation very difficult. In order for Internet users to diversify monotonous everyday life, many organizations and services in the field of culture, education and entertainment have moved to the online format and opened their endless archives for free. In addition, sports fans now have the opportunity to combine the pleasant with the useful: plunge into movies, lectures and performances without taking a break from training. We tell you what you can do during the quarantine and save money.

Watch plays, opera and ballet

Since mid-March, Russian theaters have been broadcasting productions online. The main stage of the country – the Bolshoi Theater – joined the action. Soon its audience will be able to watch the premiere of the opera “The Tsar’s Bride”, the ballet “Marco Spada”, the productions of “Boris Godunov” and “The Nutcracker” on YouTube. The Stanislavsky Electric Theatre is not left out, which will show the play “Idiotology” and launch a lecture from the German Book Center on its official VK page. Among the stages of the Northern Capital, the Alexandria and Mariinsky theaters are holding free broadcasts.

And those whose knowledge of foreign languages allows them to enjoy theatrical art can join the broadcasts of the New York Met Opera, Vienna Opera and Bavarian Opera.

Attend concerts

Many performers have decided to support isolated listeners and hold online concerts. Bee-2, Elton John, Billy Irish, Valeria, Basta and Dave Grohl have already performed for fans. Your favorite musician may have recently announced a broadcast – it’s best to follow the news on the artists’ own social media accounts.

Join virtual tours of museums

The Tretyakov Gallery, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, the Hermitage and the Russian Museum have already launched such tours. Moreover, a five-hour journey through the halls of the Hermitage was filmed on a smartphone in a single 4K take.

European museums have also created online tours or opened access to archives and expositions. Sitting on the couch in your own apartment, you can see the treasures of the Uffizi Gallery in Venice, the Louvre, the British Museum, the Prada Museum in Madrid, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and others.

Among institutions in the United States, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, the Frick Collection, the Tenement Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, and the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. offer this opportunity. NASA has also opened access to the video gallery.

Enjoy movies and TV series in an online movie theater

Now almost all well-known online cinemas offer users a free subscription or services for 1 ruble for a period of two weeks to a month and a half. In them you can find documentaries and feature films, cartoons, TV shows and series. And to decide on a choice, detailed descriptions and high-quality trailers for each picture will help. However, be careful: you will have to pay extra for some exclusive works.

Listen to podcasts and lectures

Arzamas Radio offers to listen to audio materials about history, culture and people with the promo code “CARANTINE”. In English, podcasts from the British Museum and audio talks by artists about their work from the Whitney Museum of American Art are available.

Read books and magazines

If you’ve suddenly become overwhelmed by all the books in your home library or you simply enjoy reading in electronic format, many services have opened up access to their books. Restrictions on royalty-free access apply either by time or number of works – it all depends on the platform.

For lighter and not too voluminous reading, magazines are suitable. Android users have access to issues of the scientific publication Naked Science. And PDF versions of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art’s magazine Dialogue of Arts have already been published on the web.

Boost your video game skills

Many apps in the App Store and Google Play are now free, and iPhone owners can join Apple Arcade for a month. Manufacturers of PlayStation and Xbox also went to meet the victims of the quarantine: owners of consoles will receive a discount when buying games. The same strategy adheres to the Steam platform. Currently, popular computer games can be purchased there at a discount of up to 80%.