Visit hundreds of museums virtually for free!
You might think that visiting a museum means you have to go there in person, but that’s no longer the case, thanks to the rise of smartphones. With apps like Bloomberg Connects, you can explore and learn about collections from around the globe for free without leaving your home.
What Is Bloomberg Connects and how can you use It?
Bloomberg Connects is an app available on iOS and Android that collaborates with museums and cultural institutions worldwide to provide guides to their collections and exhibits. When you open the app, you’ll find a list of nearby locations to explore.
Each guide offers a wealth of information about what you can discover, from current exhibitions to the permanent collection, all organized in user-friendly ways to suit different preferences.
Curious about the notable figures buried in a nearby cemetery? Or interested in the latest exhibition at a local museum? Bloomberg Connects highlights all these aspects, complete with plenty of photos and essays to satisfy your curiosity.
The app also features maps for each location, eliminating the need for a paper guide when you visit. You can zoom in for better visibility, and it marks the highlights of the institution, making it easier for you to navigate in person.
What Places can you explore with Bloomberg Connects?
Much like the Bloomberg organization that sponsors it, the Bloomberg Connects app has a global reach. It features over 550 institutions across 24 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Italy.
The types of venues available range from museums, botanical gardens, and historic cemeteries to zoos, theaters, historic homes, monuments, galleries, art walks, and even events like the Venice Biennale.
Among the prominent locations included are renowned institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Guggenheim. You can view the complete list on the Bloomberg Connects website, which also features many smaller institutions.
Even if museums aren’t your primary interest, Bloomberg Connects offers intriguing collections to explore, such as MTA Arts and Design. This includes artwork located within the New York City subway system.
The app also highlights street art and other works you might encounter in daily life, featuring sites like Project Row Houses in Houston, the Street Art Museum in Amsterdam, and the NYC Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine program.
How does Bloomberg Connects compare to Google Arts & Culture?
There are many museum guides available, including several tailored apps dedicated to individual institutions like the Rijksmuseum or Museo del Prado. One of the most well-known and widely used guides is Google Arts & Culture, which encompasses over 2,000 institutions globally and is accessible via the web or as an app.
While Google Arts & Culture covers a much broader range of locations and features an extensive collection of images from most of these institutions, making it easy to search for specific keywords, it excels at art research, providing inspiration for your own work, and offering virtual visits of various collections.
However, Google Arts & Culture isn’t particularly effective for preparing you for visits to physical locations. Finding and browsing through the list of covered institutions can be challenging, and both the app and website can feel cluttered with various features, including VR experiences and games—though some of the web games are enjoyable.
In contrast, Bloomberg Connects helps you locate nearby venues and provides essential information for your visit, including hours of operation and guides highlighting current exhibitions. During your visit, you can even look up specific objects using a number or QR code, with access to text or audio commentary.
There’s no clear ‘winner’ between the two, as they serve different purposes. For art enthusiasts, both apps are valuable additions to your toolkit. However, if you’re deciding which app to keep on your phone for your next trip, Bloomberg Connects is certainly a great choice.
