Wondering how many yards you're standing from a public fountain? Planning a day of gallery hopping? Looking for the nearest statue of a Pope? ARTOWN DETROIT can help you create your perfectly curated day in Detroit.
The new mobile app, which was announced winner of the Code for America's Apps for Detroit contest in early August, pinpoints a huge array of public art, sculpture, museums and galleries on a map that's accessible through a smartphone or web browser, allowing users to browse by type of art or by their GPS location.
The contest asked local developers and designers to pinpoint and address one of the city's challenges, with an app or workable prototype, in less than three weeks. It was organized by the City of Detroit, Devtroit and three fellows from the San Francisco-based Code for America organization, who have partnered with the city to come up with their own technological solutions to city issues.
"We're very excited to be moving technology forward in the city," said Karla Henderson, contest judge and city group executive of planning and facilities in advance of the competition. "It's something we've lagged on, so it's great to have volunteers and people interested in improving Detroit."
ARTOWN DETROIT was created by a team from the Troy, Mich. company Entrega Systems Group, who compiled their own database of art works.
In second place, Android app My City - Detroit brings together accessible information on bus routes, parks, libraries and other city features. The third place winner created a prototype of a digital kiosk for bus stops that would let riders see where their buses were along the route. A score of others had their own take on the contest -- see all the winners on the Apps for Detroit website.
Flickr photo by Sean Davis.
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