PHOTO | GOOGLE ARTS

Goodyear Arts is among 13 Charlotte area cultural centers partnering with Google Arts on a website that allows visitors online access at a distance.

Google Arts & Culture is putting Charlotte cultural institutions at your fingertips.

Google Arts & Culture is collaborating with 13 area galleries and museums to launch a site allowing people to explore their cultural offerings from an acceptable social distance, as most cultural institutions remain closed due to COVID-19. This is a global initiative that extends to cities like Kansas City and Milwaukee in the United States, as well as Milan and Naples in Italy, Lyon, France and Hamburg, Germany.

Charlotte is the third U.S. city  and first in the South to be featured.

Participating organizations in Charlotte include the Mint Museum, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts & Culture, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Levine Museum of the New South, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Arts & Science Council, Atkins Library at UNC Charlotte, Goodyear Arts, Carolina Raptor Center, Charlotte Symphony and the McColl Center for Art + Innovation.

“We are thrilled to showcase Charlotte’s rich culture, history of innovation and thriving art scene for everyone to explore online at Google Arts & Culture,” Simon Delacroix, U.S. lead of Google Arts & Culture said in a statement. “From its fascinating museums to its delightful culinary scene to its achievements as a business hub, Charlotte is captivating. Thanks to our 13 local partners, the world can go to one virtual destination to experience this outstanding city.”

Said Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles: “We all know the value that arts and culture can add to a growing city like ours and we appreciate when others show interest in what we’ve established. I really appreciate Google’s willingness to showcase our thriving arts community and to celebrate what it means to be uniquely Charlotte.”

Users can explore 20 African American artists you should know with the Gantt Center, civil rights exhibits with the Atkins Library and the Levine Museum, as well as an oral history of Charlotte’s Brooklyn neighborhood. The site includes over 3,000 artworks and artifacts from the 13 organizations.

“Charlotte’s diverse and inclusive culture has so much to offer. From Charlotte and Davidson’s James Beard Award nominated chefs to the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts & Culture, so much is captured on this site for our state and world to enjoy,” said U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, who represents Charlotte in Congress. “I am proud that Google Arts & Culture chose to celebrate the crown jewels of the Queen City."

Said ASC President Jeep Bryant: “The Arts & Science Council is proud to be a partner in the Google Arts & Culture Charlotte project, which celebrates all aspects of arts and culture in the Queen City, including our community’s vibrant public art collection: “From innovative works at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, including one of the largest digital artwork in the world, to lifting up artists of color and their contributions to the collection, this project provides a compelling way for people to learn how public art connects to our region’s rich history.”

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