#WRECares – The [Virtual] Bass

Miami Beach’s contemporary art museum announces move to free virtual programming and online resources amid COVID-19 closure.

 The Bass, Miami Beach’s contemporary art museum, is launching virtual programming and online initiatives amid the temporary closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Called The [Virtual Bass, the museum is publishing a wealth of online resources – from virtual reality tours of past exhibitions and exclusive video interviews with exhibiting artists, to robust lesson plans for now home-schooled students – completely free. 

From March 23-27, in lieu of the cancelled Spring Art Camps, The Bass hosts the first-ever Art Camp From Home, featuring fun, at-home art activities using common household materials. By signing up for the museum’s newsletter, registrants will receive each day’s activities sent directly to their inbox. For more information, visit thebass.org/education/art-camp-home. 

The camp launched simultaneously with the museum’s latest Instagram profile @BassCreativityCenter. The Creativity Center is the learning hub of the museum’s IDEAS program of innovative workshops, tours, community outreach projects and public programs. Although the Center’s physical programming is cancelled for the time being, The Bass is sharing educational resources for all ages through the platform. The account will also serve as a direct access point to the museum’s educational staff, who will be able to answer questions and provide assistance to parents working on provided activities with their children. 

Additionally, the inaugural Instagram exhibition Joyous Dystopia remains on view via the museum’s virtual gallery @TheBassSquared, which was launched thanks to the Knight Foundation in 2019 in an effort to make more digital art accessible online. The museum’s curators are currently investigating new ways to activate the Instagram gallery in the coming weeks as an extension of the exhibition programming, including the presentation of video works from the collection. 

“While our physical doors may be shuttered for the time being, we will continue a consistent flow of free educational resources, programming and content for our audiences to enjoy during this time of closure,” says Executive Director Silvia Karman Cubiñá. “During these challenging times, we hope this free content will act as a respite for the community, underscored by fun ‘Cafecito Break’ social media posts of art highlights at 3:05 p.m. daily, and active outreach to our members and friends to inform and shape our digital initiatives according to their needs.” 

THE [VIRTUAL] BASS IS NOW OPEN 

In the coming weeks, visitors to The [Virtual] Bass can expect to see the virtual exhibition of video art from the collection, the launch of a blog run by the high school students who serve on the museum’s Teen Board, and recorded lectures featuring content produced by curator Leilani Lynch. 

For more information and to visit The [Virtual] Bass: thebass.org/virtualbass.