Google joins with arts and cultural groups to create online hub in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh’s evolution from a storied steel town to a city known as much for its arts, history and culture as its industry, is taking a significant step Tuesday.
Some 15 local arts and cultural institutions are partnering with Google to create an online presence on Google’s Arts & Culture platform. Created to be a sort of one-stop cultural shopping hub, the app at g.co/explorepittsburgh will host a wide array of arts entities.
They include things like exhibits at the Carnegie Museum of Art, contemporary glassmaking with the Pittsburgh Glass Center, manufacturing history with the Senator John Heinz History Center, and baseball archives at the Clemente Museum.
“The City of Pittsburgh has always been celebrated for our rich culture rooted in history, art, sports, music, theater, natural splendors, writing, architecture, food, entertainment and our hardworking tradition,” said Mayor Bill Peduto. “Now, that proud and powerful culture will be shared with people all around the world on Google Arts & Culture and we hope that it will inspire many to visit our city.”
Pittsburgh is the first city in the Northeast and fifth in the U.S. to be featured in Google Arts & Culture. The others are Kansas City, Milwaukee, Charlotte, and Atlanta. European cultural hubs on the platform include Milan and Naples, Italy, Lyon, France and Hamburg, Germany.
“Pittsburghers have long known that our proud manufacturing history is only half of the story, the other half is our rich cultural legacy that has endured several renaissances,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills. “Now, through Google Arts & Culture, the world can see Pittsburgh’s thriving culture which is driven by the many libraries, universities, and art museums that are proud to call Pittsburgh home.”
On the platform, people can take 360 virtual tours of the The Mattress Factory, the Clemente Museum, Carlow University, Pittsburgh Glass Center and WYEP radio, and see life in the city’s 20th century Black communities through the archive of legendary photographer Teenie Harris at the Carnegie Museum of Art. They can also learn about Pittsburgh’s manufacturing history, from steel workers to mines and foundries through the Senator John Heinz History Center, among other attractions.
“We are proud to present Pittsburgh’s thriving art scene, community and heritage to the world online at Google Arts & Culture,” said Todd Underwood, senior director of engineering and Google Pittsburgh Site Lead. “Pittsburgh is a trailblazer in American culture - from manufacturing to contemporary art - and now everyone can experience the sights and sounds that make it so unique thanks to our 15 local partners.”
Google has had an office in Pittsburgh since 2005 in an old Nabisco plant with more than 800 employees.
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