We’re really excited to be finally launching a project that’s been a long time in the making: an app for smartphones for our public art collection. The app is called STQRY (pronounced “story”) and is available on iOS, Android and Windows 8 operating systems for free. Right now you’ll find 50 works of art from Seattle’s collection, including nearly 25 at Seattle Center, and the rest along the central Seattle and Waterfront neighborhoods. We will continue to add works as we go, and grow the online collection.

The piece that’s really cool about this app is that a number of local arts agencies are using it – so if you download it, you’ll be rewarded with public art from not just Seattle’s collection, but from 4Culture (King County’s Public Art Authority), ArtsWA  (Washington state’s collection), City of Redmond (public art and events), City of Kent (public art), City of Sammamish (public art, parks, facilities), and  Renton History Museum (exhibits and City of Renton public art). And there are more agencies and organizations in the pipeline.

The app will help you locate new works of art via a GPS system that can tell you what’s nearby, and also has a QR (hence the “qr” in STQRY) code scanner, so you can find out more about a work of art that you happen upon. Information includes a history, artist statement, historic images if available and sometimes even video.

We love presenting new ways for the public to engage with our public art collection.  Let us know what you think of the platform, and make sure to download STQRY to your device.

–          Calandra Childers, Communications Manager