In Spring 2023, The Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University is excited to announce an ongoing digital partnership with Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app. The museum’s free mobile guide offers digital access to The Block’s work, including voices from artists, curators, and students. 

Through the Block Museum digital guide users can plan their visit, access insights on-site, and explore works on view at home–or anytime, anywhere. In 2023, The Block is proud to join over 170 international museums, galleries, sculpture parks, gardens, and cultural spaces on Bloomberg Connects.

“Our new digital guide is an extraordinary way for audiences to explore and connect with The Block’s work from anywhere. For visitors onsite at the museum, the tool deeply enhances the accessibility of our exhibitions – offering audio versions of labels, multiple language translation, and on screen text compatible with assistive technology. The Block has made the commitment to ensure that all printed labels within the museum are available through the multiple points of access offered within the guide. Visitors will also find an enhanced version of our campus art walk, online-only exhibitions showcasing collection works, and the opportunity to access additional stories, artist voices and information about works on view,” says Lindsay Bosch, Associate Director of Marketing, Communication, and Digital Strategy.

“The digital guide also places The Block’s work into dialogue with an extended community of art museums and cultural sites around the world. We are thrilled that Bloomberg Connect’s growing network of cultural partners and over 1.3 million app users worldwide will now have the opportunity to access videos, stories, and detailed exhibition information about Northwestern’s art museum. As an academic art museum, The Block is dedicated to the creation and dissemination of new knowledge. Our partnership with Bloomberg Connects offers us another powerful, ongoing platform for this work.”

Using The Block’s Digital Guide

After downloading the free Bloomberg Connects app – Search for or scroll to “Block Museum” to access museum content. When you arrive at The Block Museum, look for a Bloomberg Connects magnifying glass near artwork and enter the lookup number to learn more. (And don’t forget to bring your headphones.)

Featured on The Block’s Bloomberg Connects guide:

Exhibition Accessibility and Stories
Access optimized labels, translation, images, and audio interpretation for our current exhibitions.  Explore videos, essays, and talks to deepen your engagement with the exhibition topics.

Campus Art Walk
Tour with us using maps, audio, and images to guide you through the sixteen sculptures of our campus art walk.

Digital Exhibitions
Explore works from The Block’s collections organized as digital exhibitions, including our annual alignment with the One Book One Northwestern program

Museum Videos
Learn more about the way that The Block catalyzes teaching, learning and research at Northwestern University.

About Bloomberg Connects

Bloomberg Connects offers free digital guides to cultural organizations around the world.  The app platform is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ longstanding commitment to supporting digital innovation in the arts.  Bloomberg Connects makes it easy to access and engage with arts and culture from mobile devices when visiting in person, or anytime from anywhere. With dynamic content exclusive to each partner organization, the app provides a range of features including video, audio, and text; expert commentary; and way-finding maps.  Follow Bloomberg Connects on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for updates on new guide launches, exhibit highlights, and more. The Bloomberg Connects app, available for download from Google Play or the App Store.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies

Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2022, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $1.7 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter.