As museum doors close, digital doors open with countless virtual tours, artist spotlights, and exhibitions to reach the art-starved among us. Feel like you’re in the heart of NYC culture with these online experiences you should definitely check out. We’ve rounded up some of the best NYC museums you can visit online.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)
The Met reopened its doors in August following a five-month closure, although plenty of online programming remains available. Celebrate artworks new to the collection with MetCollects, explore some of the museum’s iconic spaces with The Met 360° Project, or hear firsthand from curators about which works of art changed the way they see the world. Visit the full catalogue of online programming at The Met, including digital features for kids and audio tours to listen to the stories behind thousands of artworks in the collection and select exhibitions.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
The MoMA’s evolving collection includes almost 200,000 works of modern and contemporary art, with nearly 90,000 works in its online archive. View works such as Pablo Picasso’s sketches and prints, Frida Kahlo’s oil paintings, and Vincent van Gogh’s original Starry Night. MoMA’s vast online archive of past exhibits is also available, dating back to 1929!
[Things to Do While Social Distancing in NYC this Fall]
American Museum of Natural History
The AMNH’s collection extends far beyond its walls. Online exhibitions and over 2,000 items like ancient skeletons, insects, and life-size models are available to explore online. Customizable virtual field trips are also available to observe exhibits and complete activities to gain scientific understandings.
Children’s Museum of the Arts
The Children’s Museum of the Arts’ online collection includes contemporary artworks by emerging and established artists from around the world, as well as online exhibitions. Current exhibitions include Polish-born American painter and printmaker Leon Bibel’s prints and the groundbreaking With Liberty and Justice for Some, a group of diverse portraits of U.S. immigrants.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (The Guggenheim)
Take a virtual walk down the ramps of Frank Lloyd Wright’s rotunda, explore the Impressionism and Early Modern Art galleries of the Tannhauser Collection, or visit The Guggenheim’s archive of books and catalogues documenting past exhibitions and collections. For a more immersive experience, visit the museum’s events calendar for a list of online public programs like stimulating virtual conversations, performances, and family-friendly programming.
[Exploring New York City Online]
Whitney Museum of American Art (Whitney)
Journey online through 60 of Whitney’s most famous paintings from the 20th century, revisit your favorite exhibitions, and enjoy video and audio content. You can also check out Whitney’s online events calendar to gain access to artists talks, live screenings, art history courses, and creative projects for all ages. Follow #WhitneyFromHome to be the first to know about upcoming digital activities.
Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum
Roam the Carnegie ‘Digital Mansion’ (the home of Cooper Hewitt) and explore exhibitions, favorite objects, archives, and tools for educators and parents. The only museum in the U.S. devoted to historical and contemporary design also has history resources, lectures, learning labs, and virtual tours that explore hundreds of years of design aesthetic and creativity.
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