This is a challenging time for arts and culture organizations and for many of us personally. The Bloor St. Culture Corridor has always been and will continue to be a caring and supportive community. We will focus on good health, proactive actions, and loving thoughts as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve.

While our organizations are temporarily closed and in-person events are not happening, we will be focusing on connecting people with our partners' online events, performances, exhibitions, podcasts, social media chats, online arts talks, and any other ways that you can enjoy arts and culture at our partner organizations - from your home.

Be well, everyone, and please stay in touch. Connect with us here at the Bloor St. Culture Corridor on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. 

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir 

#TafelmusikTogether is a way for the music group to gather virtually with you to share beauty and comfort through music of the past. They invite you to participate by following their social media channels or their blog, and using the hashtag listed above. While their stages remain dark for the time being, they are developing creative ways to support you with the comfort of music throughout this rapidly evolving situation. Watch for mini performances, Q&A's, articles, and more.

Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre

The Miles Nadal JCC knows that physical distances pose a great challenge to everyone who uses their facilities. Even though their building has closed, their dedicated staff are working behind the scenes to to keep families active and socially connected.
They have developed a host of online and virtual programs to help you get through this unprecedented time, including live fitness classes every day, wellness and mindfulness sessions, programs and resources for children and families, social check-ins for EveryDay Friends, Shabbat Song Circle, book club and more!

The Royal Conservatory 

The Royal Conservatory has more than 25 Koerner Hall concerts online for you to enjoy, with some of the finest classical, jazz, and world music on stage. Within this amazing catalogue, they'll be doing a Koerner Hall Concerts Streaming Series on Facebook - be sure to follow them today.

Istituto Italiano di Cultura

All of the Istituto's courses are being offered online - now's your time to sign up for the Spring term! Be sure to email corsi.iictoronto@esteri.it.
Toronto-based immersive theatre company DLT is partnering with the Istituto to launch Theatre-On-Call, a festival of performances occurring over the phone and other digital platforms. It is a way to continue to offer immersive experiences that reaches audiences directly in their homes. Performances will be available in Italian, English, and French

Bata Shoe Museum

The Bata Shoe Museum has been actively making sure their audience is informed and getting all the footwear knowledge they could want via social media, and we've listed a few of what they have on the go here.
Downloadable colouring sheets titled Colouring the World at Your Feet are available, and they invite you to check out Standing TALL: The Curious History of Men in Heels. You can get your audio fill with online streaming audio guides, can check out their many videos on Youtube, and can also visit their microsite with online past exhibitions.

Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema

In these unsettling, socially distancing times, Hot Docs look (as they always have) towards documentaries. They turn to films that make us feel connected and reassured, and remind us of all the wonderful and enriching parts of the human experience that will endure.
To help make the next few weeks speed by, you can access hundreds of titles from their Hot Docs Collection available on-demand on viewing platforms online.

Museum of Estonians Abroad (VEMU)

On April 1 at 7pm, VEMU is organizing an online lecture about the history of Estonian Swedes, describing the strategic position this Estonian minority has held between Sweden and Russia, available on their YouTube channel (they'll also be adding more films and lectures to the channel). You can also follow their Facebook channel for virtual concerts of Estonian artists from Estonian Music Week. Makers of Food is a humours historical documentary featuring stories from the owners and guests of beloved Estonian food businesses in Toronto, and was produced as part of the "Food - A Treasury of Estonian Heritage" exhibition between VEMU and the Estonian National Museum.
Tartu College will be celebrating 50 years, so what better way to stay in touch than sending in your memories of the College? Be sure to email piret.noorhani@vemu.ca.

The Japan Foundation

The staff at the Japan Foundation, Toronto are working towards maintaining activities remotely while the JFT remains closed to combat the current COVID-19 crisis. Now more than ever, there is a desire to keep connected to a world of culture beyond the walls of your home. Take a look at the list of recommendations on their website to entertain, stimulate, and motivate you during this difficult period. JFT thanks you for your continual support, and hopes to see you soon when it is safe to do so.

Toronto Reference Library

TPL connects Torontonians to extensive online services and content while library branches are closed and upcoming events at Toronto Reference Library are temporarily cancelled. The library has many ways to help you keep reading, watching, doing and learning while we all practice social and physical distancing. With a library card, you can explore a massive collection of ebooks, audiobooks and videos through OverDrive and Libby, and read online newspapers and magazines through PressReader. Enjoy movies and music through Hoopla and Kanopy, and stream unlimited concerts, ballets, operas, music documentaries and more on Medici.tv. Don't have a library card? Access virtual exhibits, collections and rare historical photos from the library's Digital Archive. Listen to one of TPL's three curated Podcasts, including Live Mic: The Best of TPL Conversations, Shelve Under and Writers Off the Page: 40 Years of TIFA. And watch hundreds of videos of onstage interviews with today's leading writers and thinkers on TPL's YouTube channel. The library looks forward to welcoming you back to its spaces soon.

Randolph Centre for the Arts

Randolph College for the Performing Arts and Randolph Centre for the Arts have moved all classes online for the time being in order to protect their students, faculty and community.  Follow their at-home antics on their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube accounts. They send out much love and gratitude to all of the fabulous organizations in the Bloor Street Culture Corridor for their creativity and dedication to finding ways to share their passions under unprecedented circumstances.

Soundstreams

Soundstreams believes that music has the power to bring people together, and break down barriers. It's a mark of our collective humanity. The recent spread of COVID-19 in our society makes gathering difficult, but we continue to carry on this mission.
Over the coming weeks and months, Soundstreams will be doing what they do best; curating adventurous musical content. Only this time, instead of in Toronto concert venues, they will be doing so online. Follow their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts as they roll out videos of the best in contemporary music, from Canada and abroad

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