Lehigh University Art Galleries joins Bloomberg Connects, launches free multimedia digital guide exploring LUAG’s diverse collection and educational programming

Lehigh University Art Galleries joins Bloomberg Connects, launches free multimedia digital guide exploring LUAG’s diverse collection and educational programming
The museum is the first in the Lehigh Valley to join cultural institutions around the globe on the Bloomberg Connects app

Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG) has launched Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and cultural app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The app makes LUAG accessible for either onsite or offsite visits through photo, audio, and video features, including information about current exhibitions, self-guided tours of gallery spaces and LUAG’s Outdoor Sculpture Collection, interviews, maps, and access resources such as audio descriptions and ASL videos for selected works in the collection.

“Joining Bloomberg Connects represents a major step forward in fulfilling our mission to allow the broadest possible audience to connect with art,” says LUAG Director and Professor of Practice Dr. William Crow. “We believe that technology should serve as a bridge, not a barrier, and this app empowers our visitors – on campus and around the globe – to explore LUAG’s diverse collection and educational resources on their own terms. It’s a vital tool for fostering critical thinking and making art accessible to everyone.”

While visiting the museum, guests can scan a QR code on LUAG’s on-site signage to access content instantly – no download necessary. Visitors who want to preview LUAG’s collection or upcoming exhibitions before visiting can download the free Bloomberg Connects app in advance to plan their trip and map out their own unique experience. The app features multilingual capabilities available through Google Translate and best-in-class accessibility features, including screen reader support, zoom, font size adjustment, transcripts, subtitles, alt-text, and more. Available for download from Google Play or at the Apple App Store, Bloomberg Connects enables users to explore hundreds of museums, galleries, sculpture parks, gardens, and cultural spaces around the world.

About Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG)
Since 1926, Lehigh University Art Galleries has served as the university’s free, public art museum, dedicated to advancing critical thinking, cultural understanding, and well-being. LUAG’s permanent collection of over 20,000 works of art is displayed across seven campus gallery spaces, including its Main Galleries inside Zoellner Arts Center, located on the edge of Lehigh’s campus. Beyond the museum walls, LUAG’s reach extends across university grounds and beyond, with a collection of 56 outdoor campus sculptures as well as public exhibitions along the South Bethlehem Greenway – making art an integral part of the Lehigh and South Bethlehem experience. With a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, LUAG serves as a cultural and educational resource for campus and the wider community – inviting all to explore, reflect, and connect with art. LUAG’s current exhibition, “Here and Now: 100 Years of LUAG, 100 Local Artists” celebrates the museum's centennial and the rich creative landscape of the Lehigh Valley and is on view through May 22. 

More About Bloomberg Connects
Bloomberg Connects offers free digital guides to cultural organizations across the globe as part of a longstanding commitment to supporting digital innovation in the arts, making 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. Follow Bloomberg Connects on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads for updates on new guide launches, exhibit highlights, and more.

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, creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. For more information, visit bloomberg.org.