Written by: Staff Report
Posted on: April 06, 2020 | 
Umeedain by IamKarachi (L), Lockdown Sessions by the Colony (C), Reading in Quarantine by Zer Zabar Pesh (R)
In the prevailing quarantine situation, which was put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, one of the main issues has been how to kill time. Many people are bored, and events and activities have been shut down for safety measures. However, different cultural organizations and individuals have begun to work around the quarantine using the power of social media. They are continuing their work in new and creative ways, and one need not be in the organization’s respective cities to participate, enjoy and learn from them.
Below is a list of cultural organizations that are hosting virtual events, performances, and discussions to help generate interesting discussions while we stay at home. These are primarily live events that will be updated regularly on their respective social media pages.
T2F
T2F is taking some of its most popular classes and events to the virtual community. These include an online mediation with Noorulain Masood, who goes through relaxation and breathing exercise to cope with the stress of being inside. Others include Qawwali or poetry recitation with the likes of Shakil Jafri, Shaista Mufti and more. T2F may also have upcoming discussions on social issues, like parenting and gender inequalities during the time of quarantine.
You can find the schedule and descriptions on T2F’s Facebook Page.
IamKarachi
The Karachi-based IamKarachi recently launched its online sessions named “Umeedain (Hope)”, which is a series of sessions on different topics, ranging from economics to spirituality. Each longer discussion is broken into short, informative online segments in which experts share their knowledge and opinions with the online community. IamKarachi uploads a schedule of talks in the morning, as well as short descriptions of the speakers, to introduce them to viewers, and allow them to watch the segment of their interest.
You can find the schedule and descriptions on IamKarachi’s Facebook Page.
(Left) Homebound Connection Poster and Kanwal Naseer (Right)
Though there are no new live performances on PNCA’s page, they have taken this opportunity to share some of the diverse performances which have taken place within PNCA’s halls. In their latest web series, Homebound Connections showcases some of PNCA’s archival footage, both as videos and photographs. These include folk songs, Qawwali, and classical performances. The first few episodes are by Kanwal Naseer, one of Pakistan’s oldest and well-established television broadcasters.
You can watch Homebound Connections on the PNCA Facebook Page or their YouTube Channel.
Many smaller accounts have taken to social media to generate interesting content on their individual Instagram accounts. The Colony, Lahore, for example, is regularly updating its Instagram feed with short but well-made videos of songs, dances and performances made by members of the group.
Zer Zabar Pesh, in particular, is introducing viewers to the works of notable Urdu poets through recitation, with subtitles in both Urdu and English, as well as minimalist visuals. Baithak is a newly-made forum for young people to share their work and teach other young people skills like writing, photography, blogging and more.
On YouTube, Ajoka Theatre’s new channel promises to upload archival videos of their plays over the years. Moreover, the latest season of Niloferscorner is also available on Youtube, for those who wish to vicariously explore the diverse land of Pakistan (read our interview with Ms. Nilofer Qazi here). In addition, Teeli continues to release new content on YouTube (read our interview with the Teeli crew here).
Most of the previous events and discussions are still available on different organizations’ Facebook pages, for viewers to discover or re-watch. These are difficult and frustrating times, but also opportunities to learn and experiment, thanks to the efforts of these organizations and groups.
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