Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs launches Atlanta Public Art Tour app

• Joeff Davis/CL File
• AN APP FOR THAT: Downtown’s Folk Art Park

With the impending transformation of Underground Atlanta and the introduction of a new streetcar service, change seems imminent Downtown. Whether planned or not, there is an obvious trend pushing for a larger sense of community. In partnership with Creative Digital Productions, the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is taking that change and running.

Designed with the city’s character and history in mind, the Atlanta Public Art Tour app combines GPS, audio, text, and images to guide users around the city’s public art world. By highlighting locally, nationally, and internationally recognized artists, the OCA hopes to showcase Atlanta’s cultural heritage and public art. The self-guided tours are divided into four sub-sections: Downtown Atlanta, Folk Art Park, Public Art in Parks, and a Streetcar Tour. Each piece of artwork included is coupled with a description of the work and the artist.

While the app does offer a variety of content — stops range from work by self-taught artist R.A. Miller to a sculpture by Italian artist Francesco Somaini and back to Gallery 72 — the “tour” aspect is less apparent. It is, more or less, a well-organized list of categorized public art. This is not to say it isn’t a valuable tool — especially due to the incorporation of GPS services. What the app lacks in cohesion and fluidity of use is made up for with an undeniable user-friendliness. The good news? It won’t cost you a cent to find out for yourself.