A new online guide and app to cultural events, described as a "sat-nav for the arts", has been unveiled by Minster for Arts Jimmy Deenihan.
Culturefox is a free app and website that lists arts and culture events, from theatre and music to comedy shows and architecture tours. The app can use a smartphone’s location to display nearby events on a map.
Artists and managers can also create their own listings online at culturefox.ie. The Arts Council said over 500 venues and 1,000 events had been created at launch.
“It’s like a sat-nav for the arts,” said Pat Moylan, chairman of the Arts Council. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re in Bantry or Boston, you can find out what’s happening.”
Unveiling the project, Mr Deenihan described the guide as “an exciting new initiative for Ireland’s arts and tourism sectors.”
The project cost €82,000, funded by the Department of Arts. The app was developed by Origin Design and Fusio, a Dublin-based design company which has developed applications for Irish companies such as The Irish Times, Entertainment.ie and the Dublin Bikes scheme.
Mr Deenihan said the department wanted to develop more technology-focused projects in the future, but would be “constrained by the availability of finance”.
“Next year’s budget will be different; it would appear we’re going to be very tight on finance for next year,” he said.
Culturefox is available as an app for iPhone, Android and Blackberry mobile devices or online at culturefox.ie.