City's Cultural Services Department Creating Hours of Online Content, Helping Residents Staying Home Also Stay Engaged
March 27, 2020
In an effort to provide cultural and educational engagement to the community during a time of social distancing and city wide closures, the City of Albuquerque's Cultural Services Department has been hard at work developing even more online content through web pages and social media, covering a variety of topics. While its no substitution for being able to access the community's many beloved spaces, it's a way of enjoying our cultural institutions from the comforts of home.
Everyone is invited to be an e-visitor. The Albuquerque Museum has created a web page where visitors can take a virtual tour, download coloring pages of items in its collection, listen to the Picture This Podcast, and watch videos including community interviews and scholarly lecturers. Most recently, the museum's director Andrew Connors took e-visitors deep into the museum's vault to learn about artist Cristo's gifts. www.cabq.gov/museum
Mayor Tim Keller said, "We are asking all of Albuquerque to stay home while we fight the coronavirus pandemic, and that can present a real challenge for local families. With two kids home with us every day, I know we are constantly on the lookout for activities that keep them busy while also helping support their development and connection to arts, culture, and education. Our City's cultural assets are unrivaled, and now we're bringing them directly into your home."
"While it's no substitution for visiting our community's many beloved spaces in person, there are many great ways to enjoy our cultural institutions and also connect to new ideas, images, content and each other from home," Dr. Shelle Sanchez, Cultural Services director, said.
Those working from home and in need of background music can enjoy "Playlist," a carefully curated lineup by those who coordinate the City's large-scale public events such as Summerfest and Freedom 4th. Local favorites like Baracutanga, Dust City Opera, and more can be found on ABQ Special Event's social channels and on One Albuquerque Media's YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/GOVTV16COA.
One Albuquerque Media (formerly GOV TV) continues to be an asset for the community by covering and streaming Mayor Tim Keller's press briefings, along with providing other video content for Cultural Services' six other divisions. One Albuquerque Media is accessible on Comcast Channel 16 and on YouTube.
Those looking to keep kids busy will not find a shortage of ideas from the Public Library. At https://abqlibrary.org/kidsathome, activities include amazing library collections to explore online, Story Time from Space, Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems, and more. Those with library cards are are encouraged to take advantage of the Library's digital resources online. These include ebooks, audiobooks, movies, music, magazines, and TV shows. www.abqlibrary.org
The ABQ BioPark is bringing the Zoo, Aquarium, Tingley Beach, and Botanic Garden right to living rooms by continuing to share videos and photos of lively and colorful things going on. Everything from young elephant Thorn splashing in the pool to bursting blossoms at the garden, and the hard-working people taking care of them, are shared via the ABQ BioPark's social media. www.abqbiopark.com
Explora is engaging the community through STEAM themed activities and its #ExploraChallenge, such as the Slo-Mo Challenge, and story times on its social media channels, and the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is posting lessons that can be done with items found around the house like "How Strong is Spaghetti" on its Facebook and Instagram.
There's a tremendous amount of art that can be enjoyed during walks or drives with five people or less. A virtual gallery of murals throughout Albuquerque can be accessed at www.murosabq.com. And an interactive map of all Albuquerque public art can be found at https://bit.ly/3bkyvua.
The City of Albuquerque is closely monitoring the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation. At this time, most City events, offices, programs, and services are being impacted. For up-to-date information, visit www.cabq.gov.