Google Arts & Culture turns 15 — and gives its app a makeover

Google Arts & Culture has launched a redesigned mobile app to mark its 15th anniversary, introducing a visual-first conversational search tool that allows users to ask questions about art and history. The update enables direct queries such as ‘Caravaggio’s chiaroscuro’ or ‘impressionist museums in Paris,’ delivering answers paired with curated stories and visuals from partner archives. The new search aims to simplify discovery by combining explanations with relevant cultural content in a single interface.

The app refresh includes two interactive AI experiments: Chrono Look, which lets users virtually try on historical attire across eras through sketches and renderings, and Dial-an-Artist, a feature enabling simulated conversations with famous artists about their work. These tools are designed to make cultural exploration more engaging by blending education with interactive play. The experiments are accessible alongside the app’s expanded archive of high-resolution artworks and artifacts.

A refreshed homepage now aggregates the app’s content into a single feed for quick daily discovery, featuring bite-sized cultural stories, daily highlights, and direct access to interactive features. The update also introduces an expanded City Guide with 27 newly added destinations, offering real-time cultural events and landmarks. Users can explore daily cultural moments, trending exhibitions, and interactive experiences tailored to their location.

The updated Google Arts & Culture app is available globally starting today, with users encouraged to download or update it via Google Play and the Apple App Store. The redesign reflects the platform’s ongoing mission to partner with over 3,000 institutions across 90 countries to preserve and make art and culture accessible to everyone. The app’s new features emphasize ease of navigation and immersive learning through visual and interactive tools.