Top image: Justyna Fedec, Alone Together. Courtesy of Somerset House

It’s hard to stay stimulated during lockdown. Luckily, Somerset House has a solution: I Should Be Doing Something Else Right Now, a newly-unveiled cultural programme scheduled to roll out gradually over the next few months. A mammoth list of names including Mykki Blanco, Juliana Huxtable and Vivienne Griffin has already been announced, but a press release promises there’s more to come. Better still, everything will be either free or available on a pay-what-you-can basis, marking a vital step in the right direction for art world accessibility.

Community is at the heart of the project, which centres a series of live streams, long-reads, deep listens and a weekly ‘Pause’ series, all designed to explore how artists are spending their time and maintaining key connections. They’re also funded by a number of the institution’s partners, a decision made to keep creatives afloat during a period of unprecedented instability.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_AUurDD0HK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Diversity plays a key role, too. From progressive music-making workshops to digital, crowd-sourced skill sessions and a series of ‘Transmissions’ episodes spotlighting emerging creatives, there’s an impressive variety of events which range from the practical to the brilliantly conceptual. May will also see artist Juliana Huxtable begin the first digital residency, bringing future-facing, innovative work to a brand new audience.

Overall, it’s a pragmatic response to crisis designed to keep artists in business and spotlight their excellence, despite the circumstances. The bonus is that we all get access to creative brilliance without ever having to leave our living rooms.

Visit the Somerset House website for a full schedule and more information on artist support schemes.