Mobile apps
In recent years, museums have developed mobile applications to enhance their collections and exhibitions. Send us your favourite museum mobile apps!
Austria
KUNSTHISTORISCHES MUSEUM WIEN (KHM)
The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna
The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna presents its internationally renown art treasures in an innovative manner with a total of seven different collections.
Colombia
MAMBO
Museum of Modern Art in Bogotá
Find out more about the Museum of Modern Art in Bogotá and access cultural and educational information about its different exhibitions, activities and cinema.
Canada
BIOSPHERE
Biosphere, Environment Museum
The Biosphère – environment museum app highlights the attractions surrounding Richard Buckminster Fuller’s iconic structure, which today is an architectural symbol of Montréal. Two GeoTour 67 walking circuits offer you a virtual visit of former Expo 67 pavilions while pointing to advances in environmental knowledge gained over the past 40 years. The tours can be done either outdoors on the former grounds of the 1967 World’s Fair or in the comfort of your own home.
DHC/ART
DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art
DHC/ART is proud to offer its first ever iPhone app, which will allow you access exhibition-related enriched content related, and learn more about current practices in contemporary art. With the touch of a finger, this interactive app will help you enhance your knowledge of contemporary art, by demystifying the work of world-renowned contemporary artists and allowing you to discover original content about the art on view.
EXPLORA AT THE LACHINE CANAL
Lachine Canal National Historic Site, Parks Canada
Explora at the Lachine Canal is a companion which reveals the rich industrial heritage of the canal, the cradle of industrialization in Canada. Six GPS-based tours are designed to help you discover the secrets and stories of the Lachine Canal, nearby buildings, and the people who lived this history firsthand. Explora at the Lachine Canal app includes stories, archived photos, 2D and 3D animations providing technical information or showing the evolution of the landscape, detailed maps and more. As visitors stroll or boat along the canal, they will enjoy this entertaining and richly informative experience.
MCCORD MUSEUM
McCord Museum
The application provides an unprecedented complementary experience when you visit the McCord Museum. Available free of charge on the App Store, the application allows you to prepare for your visit to the Museum or explore the current exhibitions. You can watch theme videos, comment on the objects being showcased, and create a list of your favourite items that you can send by e-mail.
MONTREAL MUSEUMS
Board of Montreal Museum Directors (BMMD)
Explore Montréal’s museum culture like never before: art, architecture, history, science and culture, it’s all there. Just let us guide you: museums in proximity, current exhibitions, masterpieces, routes, see the city in a whole new light. With an attractive and practical interface, Montréal Museums gives you a glimpse of exhibitions through words and images to help you make a more informed choice. Download it for free and be sure to never miss another important event!
URBAN MUSEUM MTL
McCord Museum
Urban Museum MTL provides a unique way to experience emblematic Montreal locations: Sainte-Catherine and Sherbrooke streets, Old Montreal, Mount Royal Park and McGill University campus. The superimposition of a historic image with a present-day point of view on urban life provides two visions of each place — yesterday’s and today’s. Some 150 pictures from the McCord Museum’s Notman Photographic Archives will help immerse you in Montreal’s past! Look for the marks on the ground to help position yourself as precisely as possible. A first in Canada!
CANADIAN MUSEUM OF CIVILIZATION
Canadian Museum of Civilization
This application is designed to enhance the visitor experience of Canada’s most visited Museum. Two 40 minute audio tours are featured that provide a glimpse into Canada’s fascinating social history and highlight the history and contributions of the country’s First Peoples. The audio tours are enhanced with visuals. Interactive floor maps help guide visitors through the four levels of this architectural gem. A calendar of events provides information on current exhibitions, IMAX© films and other programs. Useful information such as location, hours of operation, admission fees and amenities is also included.
France
CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES
Le Château de Versailles
Are you a history buff, or do you plan on visiting Le château de Versailles in the near future? Then this application will give you a better idea about the history of the palace and the various facets that make up the Château (Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, etc.).
LaM
Lille Métropole Musée d’art moderne, d’art contemporain et d’art brut
The official application for LaM, Lille Métropole Musée d’art moderne, d’art contemporain et d’art brut offers a video presentation of the museum, a Discovery Route of major works from the collection in mp3 format, and practical information and news about the museum.
LE GRAND PALAIS – PARIS
Le Grand Palais des Champs Elysées
The official application of the Grand Palais des Champs Elysées, situated in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. The application offers interviews with key figures (Karl Lagerfeld, Daniel Buren …) showing their attachment to the Grand Palais, interviews, an event calendar, both the history and recent news of the monument and practical information.
PARIS : MUSÉE CLUNY
Le Musée National du Moyen Âge
The official iPhone application for the Musée National du Moyen Âge located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris. This museum, housed in two of the most prestigious buildings of historic Paris since 1843 retains real treasures like the famous tapestry of the Lady and the Unicorn. The application offers both an audio/video visit of the collection as well as museum news (tours, events, exhibitions…).
QUAI BRANLY
Le Musée du quai Branly
The official iPhone application for the Musée du quai Branly offers the Museum’s complete agenda of activities, a video guide, a series of Discovery Tours of the collections in the museum as well as practical information, including an interactive map.
MUSÉE DE CAMBRAI
Le Musée des Beaux-Arts de Cambrai
The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Cambrai is literally in your pocket with this iPhone app! In it you will find a presentation of the Museum, the Museum audio guides (embedded in the application); news about the Museum, and contact information.
MUSÉE DU LOUVRE
Le Musée du Louvre
Musée du Louvre official application. To celebrate the success of the official Louvre App, we’ve developed a new version with even more artworks and functions! Discover the museum and its most beautiful artworks, and stay updated thanks to our new Newsfeed function.
MUSÉE NATIONAL FERNAND LÉGER DE BIOT
Le Musée National Fernand Léger de Biot
Official Application of the Musée National Fernand Léger de Biot. This application offers you an audio visit of the museum’s collections, a photo gallery of the selected art works of the museum and practical information.
MUSÉE NATIONAL MARC CHAGALL DE NICE
Le Musée National Marc Chagall de Nice
Official application for the Musée national Marc Chagall de Nice. The application offers an audio tour of the collection, a photo gallery of selected works from the museum, practical information and current exhibitions.
Italy
ACCADEMIA GALLERY. THE OFFICIAL GUIDE
Galleria dell’Accademia
The application, developed by Giunti Editore in cooperation with the Soprintendenza Speciale per il Polo Museale Fiorentino, is the official guide to the Galleria dell’Accademia. It consists of four main sections (Guide, Map, Masterpieces, Info) and offers the basic and in-depth information you need to visit the museum. It’s also a useful educational tool.
UFFIZI. THE OFFICIAL GUIDE
Galleria degli Uffizi
The application, the official guide to the Galleria degli Uffizi, offers the basic and in-depth information you need to visit the museum. It is also a useful educational tool for those who want to know more about this world famous museum. Developed by Giunti Editore in cooperation with the Soprintendenza Speciale per il Polo Museale Fiorentino, this easy to use guide consists of four main sections (Guide, Map, Masterpieces and Info).
Korea
ART MUSEUMS IN SEOUL
Art Museums In Seoul
Keen to experience the Seoul art scene? Let Art Museums in Seoul help you. It contains various information about modern and contemporary art museums in Seoul and their collections, current exhibitions, artists and artworks, exhibition-related programs, events, etc. You can explore a wide range of fields in regards to contemporary art; design, painting, sculpture, photography, media, installation…
Netherlands
GRAPHIC DESIGN MUSEUM
Graphic Design Museum in Breda, The Netherlands
This App shows highlights from the collection of the Graphic Design Museum in Breda, The Netherlands. It contains explanatory texts, images and video interviews about different exhibitions currently on display.
United Kingdom
LOVE ART: NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON
The National Gallery in London
The National Gallery in London houses one of the greatest collections of Western European painting in the world. These pictures belong to everyone and are presented here for you to enjoy and keep with you at all times. Explore the brushstrokes and hear the stories behind masterpieces by Leonardo, Renoir, Botticelli, Rembrandt and Van Gogh, along with lesser known paintings and hidden gems. Listen to commentary and insight from famous artists, writers and experts who will take you on an unforgettable journey into art.
USA
ACOUSTIGUIDE SMARTOUR – ASIAN ART MUSEUM
The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art. This application provides an introduction to the museum’s renowned collection. The self-guided 60-minute multimedia tour, produced in collaboration with Acoustiguide, Inc., includes multiple images with audio content of key artworks, as well as over 30 minutes of supplemental video.
INFINITY OF NATIONS
Smithsonian Institution
In this mobile guide to the exhibition, you will experience the tremendous scope of the Smithsonian museum’s collections, representing the length and breadth of the Americas. You’ll also be able to explore objects specially selected for their aesthetic, cultural, and historic significance. Native historians and community knowledge keepers have collaborated with the museum to interpret these objects. Esta aplicación está disponible en Inglés y Español.
FRENCH IMPRESSIONISM AT THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
Art Institute of Chicago
The official app for the Art Institute of Chicago. Monet, van Gogh, Seurat, Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir: these artists and more can be with you anywhere! Explore one of the world’s best collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art with the expertise of museum curators from the palm of your hand.
MOAS
The Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS)
The Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS) is the primary art, history and science museum in Central Florida. Through the application, visitors viewing paintings will have zoom capabilities, digital labels with extended information, artist biographies, and challenge questions designed specifically for students. The application also provides basic information including events and exhibition schedules, ticketing, and directions to the Museum.
SFMOMA ROOFTOP GARDEN
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Enter the complete sensory and aesthetic experience of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s new Rooftop Garden: tour ten sculptures to insightful commentaries by artists and curators. Watch behind the scenes video of Louise Bourgeois and hear Robert Arneson, Kiki Smith, and Ranjani Shettar discuss their work; listen to a specially composed “Guest Take” musical response by world/jazz saxophonist George Brooks.
Suggested Reading: ECONOMOU, Maria and MEINTANI, Elpikini (2011). “Promising beginnings? Evaluation museum mobile phone apps, Museology Laboratory, Department of Cultural Technology & Communications”, University of the Aegean, Greece. Presented at Re-thinking Tehnologies in museums 2011, Emerging Experiences Programme.
Last update: 02/17/2012
