Google Arts & Culture launches a Charlotte site. Now, you can explore from the couch.
With the help of Google, people from all around the world can now experience the culture — past and present — of Charlotte from their personal computers and devices. Starting today, Google Arts and Culture will feature more than 3,000 pieces of art and artifacts through curated stories, from some of our city’s institutions.
The website, which launched in Europe last year, was designed to highlight the social fabrics that make up the DNA of cities around the world. The partnership with Charlotte is significant because it is the first city in the American South to be highlighted and only the third city in the U.S.— with Kansas City, Missouri, being the first.
“We really hope that the people of Charlotte are proud of this page,” Simon Delacroix, U.S. lead of Google Arts & Culture, told CharlotteFive. “You have world-class institutions and art, and it is exciting to see them come together to highlight Charlotte’s DNA.”
Delacroix and his team carefully select cities across the country that are not always highlighted. Rather than focusing on New York City or Los Angeles, they have decided to go with lesser-known places to show how uniquely American they are.
The search started by finding cities which already had a relationship with Google. Delacroix personally met with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority to choose the 13 institutions that will be featured during the launch. Although our city has lots more to offer, these particular places and businesses were open and able to be featured during the pandemic.
“We welcome new institutions with open arms as we plan to continuously add to and update the page,” Delacroix said. “Our goal is to unite people from Charlotte, the U.S., and even the world through this platform.”
Local favorites, in your living room
Institutions such as the Mint Museum, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts & Culture, Goodyear Arts, Charlotte Symphony and the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be just a click away for anyone wanting to experience them.
Users will be able to take a 360 tour of the Levine Museum of the New South, engage with local artists, tour the city and local establishments, watch performances, as well as virtually visit some of our most popular art galleries and restaurants from the comfort and safety of their homes.
Google utilized a special street view camera technology to film the 360 tour. The plan was to add more, but the pandemic hit and they weren’t able to bring the team back for additional filming. Once it is safe, they plan to return to shoot additional video content for the Charlotte page.
“I have only been able to visit Charlotte once, and I can’t wait to return once it is safe to travel again,” Delacroix said.
The app is available for Apple and Android devices. It is free of charge for nonprofits and institutions wanting to be listed. Simply make a request under the “about” section of the page or reach out to one of the current institutions being featured for launch.
This story was originally published August 12, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
