Discover Munich’s cultural history via app

The MunichArtToGo app from the Central Institute for Art History in Munich (ZI) offers the opportunity to discover the city through art history. The free and ad-free app, which is available in the Apple App Store and Google Playstore, brings art history and cultural history to life. MunichArtToGo presents both well-known and lesser-known places in the city of Munich. The short (art) stories cover the period from 1800 to the present day. Historical photographs in the app make it possible to directly compare the urban space of the past with its current state. They also offer the opportunity to recognize the presence and absence of cultural assets. The Zentralinstitut wants users to have the opportunity to “explore Munich’s urban space anew with the help of the ZI’s unique sources and image collections”.

The MunichArtToGo app was created as part of the “kultur.digital.vermittlung” program (duration of the program: 2021 to 2023), which was funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts. The contributions came from employees of the Zentralinstitut, specialist colleagues, students of the Institute of Art History at LMU, but also from Munich citizens, journalists and people interested in history and art.

The MunichArtToGo app is available for both iOS and Android and offers various ways to go on a discovery tour. On the one hand, a map provides an overview that shows buildings, works of art in public spaces, culturally significant places as well as fountains and parks. You can discover exciting places nearby by locating them. There are pins on the map that you can click on to get a photo of the object and its name. Another click on the photo and more information about the location is displayed. The short articles, known as “stories”, report on the history, significance and function of the object. A wide variety of topics can be found, such as Munich’s glass palace, Ludwig II’s roof garden, coffee houses that served as meeting places for the bohemians, as well as art dealers and the Central Collecting Point. Even the unexpected, such as the artistic design of a subway ventilation shaft, is honored in an article in the app.

Under “Tours”, you can discover tours with different thematic focuses. For example, the “Search for traces of Egypt” takes you to a statue of Antinous in the English Garden, you learn about an Egyptian saint and get to know the sphinxes at the North Cemetery. Another tour takes a look at Munich as a city of art, which was also able to achieve this reputation thanks to the numerous, mostly Jewish art dealers. This cultural flourishing came to an abrupt end under National Socialism. At the suggestion of users, the existing tour “The Munich Art Trade Center – from its heyday to National Socialism” was provided with audio contributions and thus has a kind of audio guide function. The information on the objects presented can then also be called up as stories.

If you would rather go on a journey of discovery from your sofa or plan your next trip, you can also do this with the help of MunichArtToGo. In the “Stories” section, you can choose between the latest stories, nearby places or recommended articles. The “Discover” section offers the possibility to find recommended stories or stories nearby. The latest tours are also presented. A search function offers the possibility to search with keywords. You can enter names, districts, events and also terms. There is also the option to search for authors. As soon as you have found what you are looking for, you can start your discovery tour through Munich.

In addition to the information on the properties presented, there is also further information. Some of these are historical photos that can be compared directly with the current status. But there are also drawings, caricatures, current photos and other images. The stories also contain bibliographical references, offering the opportunity to delve further into the topic. Audio files are also provided for some articles, so that users can obtain further information in addition to the text. According to the Central Institute for Art History, the stories are intended to help users “visualize historical places, developments, processes and constellations”.

Anyone missing a place or topic in the MunichArtToGo app can participate with stories or thematic tours. The Central Institute for Art History offers the opportunity to get in touch and provides assistance in finding topics and research. Additional images or information are also welcome.
This opportunity to actively help shape the app is clearly popular with users. While over 50 stories and three tours were available in March 2023, the Central Institute for Art History can already report 121 text contributions and nine tours for January 2024.

Further information on possible participation can be obtained by emailing municharttogo@zikg.eu or calling 089 289 275 56.