Good morning, Asheville. Ali here. With Buncombe County still under a Stay Home, Stay Safe order as we all work together to slow the spread of COVID-19, I’ve been feeling motivated to use the extra time at home to get creative. Not only is creativity important for me personally, it’s also a great way to mix up daily routines that might be getting a little stagnant or frustrating.

But even though I’ve been excited to flex my creative muscles, I’ve had some trouble figuring out where to start. And I thought it’s possible you might be experiencing the same thing. So today, I found six virtual events happening in the next two weeks – like filmmaking lectures, artist talks, poetry workshops, and podcasting trainings – that will help you spread your creative wings, whether you’re feeling inspired or just need an escape from your day-to-day.

🎥 Filmmaking Lecture Series | Thurs., April 23-Thurs., May 28 | 7 p.m. | $25 per webinar; $140 for the series | Weekly mini-lectures from Asheville School of Film’s Brad Hoover on topics like visual storytelling secrets, careers in film, the craft of film lighting + more.

🖼️ Hilma af Klimt: 20th-Century Visionary, 21st-Century Artist | Thurs., April 23 | 8 p.m. | $5-$20 suggested | See the works of visionary abstract artist Hilma af Klimt, in conjunction with REVOLVE and Grail Moviehouse’s screening of Beyond the Visible, a documentary about her life + work.

🎨 Ask the Artist | Mon., April 27 | 4 p.m. | Free | Get to know Joshua Adams + Jiha Moon, the two artists behind Center for Craft’s Shapeshifters exhibition, through this new Q&A series. Have a question about their work, inspirations, or life in quarantine? Drop it here.

🌎 Global Creative Writing | Tues., April 28-Tues., May 19 | 1-2:30 p.m. | Free | Join the LEAF Global crew to immerse yourself in storytelling traditions from every continent. Meet a new tradition each week, then create a collaborative work in that style with your fellow participants.

🎙️ How to Start a Podcast in 10 Easy Steps | Sat., May 2 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Free; register | Learn everything you need to know to start your podcast, from picking your topic to equipment, promotion + more in this workshop from Buncombe County Libraries + Making It In Asheville.

🖋️ Ekphrastic Poetry w/ Alli Marshall | Tues., May 5 | 6-8:30 p.m. | $40-$45 | Explore + create ekphrastic art (a.k.a. art made in response to another piece of art), with writer + performer Alli Marshall in this Flatiron Writers Room workshop.