While 2021 may not have got off to the start we wanted, there are still some great events being held virtually that can brighten up our days and evenings.
From music to puppetry to drawing, there's a good mix below if you know what you like, or if you fancy exploring something new.
Celtic Connections
Friday 15 January - Tuesday 2 February at www.celticconnections.com
Glasgow's annual folk, roots, indie, world and traditional music festival celebrates the links between Celtic music and cultures across the globe.
The 28th edition heads online with performances from Scottish and international artists available to view across the 19 days of the festival.
This year’s programme features the likes of Admiral Fallow, Declan O’Rourke, Eddi Reader, José González, Project Smok, Rachel Newton, Siobhan Miller and many more.
MANIPULATE Festival
Friday 29 January - Sunday 7 February at www.manipulatefestival.org
Puppet Animation Scotland collates a collection of world-class animation, puppetry and related performing arts of all styles and techniques from a range of international artists and companies.
The 2021 event features a digital programme of 15 events, featuring artists both homegrown and international, and running the gamut across the art forms of puppetry, animation, aerials and much more.
Highlights include a digital preview of Fringe favourite Manual Cinema's The End of TV, an exploration of the American Dream set in a '90s Rust Belt city, and experimental theatre company Snap Elastic bringing their work of 'consensual cannibalism' to a virtual stage in EAT ME.
De-stress Drawing Group
Wednesday 20 January at www.drawingandpaintingstudio.com
Glasgow’s Drawing and Painting Studio hosts this online drawing group wherein participants can draw and doodle in friendly, relaxed company.
Led by artist Blair Thomson, who will be on hand to give tips and encouragement, each session will have a different theme to help get those creative juices flowing, though people are also free to draw to the beat of their own drum.
Suitable for all levels of skill and ability.
Sound Festival
Thursday 28 - Sunday 31 January at www.sound-scotland.co.uk .
Scotland’s innovative festival of new music ushers in its second installment this January, with a programme of live streamed events from Aberdeen Arts Centre, as well as a variety of pre-recorded concerts and films.
With the theme of ‘endangered instruments,’ the line-up includes a screening of Scottish Opera’s digital production The Narcissistic Fish, as well as performances from Red Note Ensemble, Rookh Quartet, Ensemble Court-circuit, Richard Ingham, Pete Stollery and more.