Deepening Experiences with Art: Bloomberg Connects
In January 2023, the Walker Art Center quietly launched a new digital guide on Bloomberg Connects that would enable the museum to provide visitors with a more deeply engaging experience with artworks on view, as well as an easier time navigating the Walker campus. Bloomberg Connects, available at walkerart.org/bloomberg-connects/, is a free app powered by Bloomberg Philanthropies, allowing users to explore expert-curated content and guides to over 350 museums, galleries, sculpture parks, gardens, and cultural spaces from the palm of your hand. The Walker is the first institution in the upper Midwest to participate in Bloomberg Connects.
Through its partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies on developing the guide, the Walker has been able to directly respond to feedback gathered from community members through surveys and group dialogues during the run of the exhibition Make Sense of This (2023). This installation invited visitors to respond to a set of questions about its artworks and gallery texts, as well as their own content preferences. While responses were highly divergent, visitors broadly indicated an interest in additional behind-the-scenes content and personal reflections from curators and other Walker team members—content now accessible through the Connects app.
In addition to better serving all visitors with Bloomberg Connects, the Walker is also a participant in the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Digital Accelerator Program, which provides grants and training to help arts orga- nizations invest in improvements to their technology and create bold projects that strengthen the institution. Planning is still underway, but keep an eye on the Walker’s website for exciting changes coming soon!
The Bloomberg Connects app is available for download from Google Play or the App Store or by scanning the QR code here:
