In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all being encouraged to engage in social distancing. Many museums and galleries have temporarily closed, and art festivals have been postponed. But social distancing does not require cultural disengagement. In this spirit, we have compiled a list of free online classes in art and art history. These courses range from brief lecture series to multi-week assignment-based learning. Stay safe and stay at home.

Ways of Seeing with John Berger
John Berger hosts four 30-minute episodes of this BAFTA award-winning BBC program. Now available on YouTube, Berger examines the impact of photography on our appreciation of art from the past. For course reading, John Berger’s 1972 book of the same name is a must-read.
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Seeing Through Photographs with Sarah Meister
Sarah Meister of MoMA’s Department of Photography teaches this six-week course with video lectures, readings, and weekly graded assignments. Topics range from classic documentary photography to contemporary projects.
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Let This Be a Lesson: Heroes, Heroines and Narratives in Paintings with John Walsh
J. Paul Getty Museum’s Director Emeritus John Walsh’s 12 recorded video lectures uses 11 works from Yale’s collection to examine the history of history paintings. Each lecture is accompanied by a list of recommended readings on the artist and the painting’s subject.
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Introduction to Digital Photography with Marc Levoy
Stanford Professor Emeritus of Computer Science, Marc Levoy teaches a comprehensive class on the basics of digital photography. From the parts of a digital camera to depth of field, the principles of high dynamic range, and the history of photographic composition.
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Intentional Public Disruptions: Art, Responsibility, and Pedagogy with B. Stephen Carpenter II
MIT’s 2017 visiting artist B. Stephen Carpenter II’s lecture series is now available online through MIT. He discusses new perspectives on issues of access, privilege, and the global water crisis in Africa and Central America.
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Aesthetics & The Philosophy of Art with James Grant
James Grant, lecturer in philosophy at University of Oxford’s lecture series is now available from Oxford University. The first part of the series focuses on important writings on art and beautify in the Western philosophical tradition covering Plato, Aristotle, and Immanuel Kant. The second part of the series focuses on questions about understanding works of art, interpretation of literature, and the definition of art.
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Effective Fundraising and Leadership in Arts and Culture
As the global funding landscape changes, arts and cultural organizations are becoming increasingly concerned about what actions to take. This course covers the importance of developing organization resilience through leadership and management, diversifying income streams, and leaderships styles.
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