Art in Public Places Knoxville, a public art initiative that it part of the city’s overarching art program, has adopted QR codes as a way to make the various art pieces set up in downtown areas more engaging for smart phone users. The codes will be affixed to description plates for more than 22 sculptures and will hold information concerning the piece and its creator. Art in Public places has teamed with U.S. Cellular, a wireless telecommunications company, to make the imitative possible. U.S. Cellular will be creating the codes and will help provide analytic data concerning their performance.
Smart phone users can scan the codes to be taken to a mobile website which holds information regarding a sculpture. Mobile users will also be able to share their findings on social networking sites. Art in Public Places is also running a campaign where mobile users can vote for their favorite pieces by scanning the codes. Pieces with the most votes will be awarded a People’s Choice award.
QR codes are becoming a very popular way for public programs to engage a mobile audience. Though the codes are still relatively unknown, they have performed well in the marketing field. Officials with Art in Public Places hope that the same allure the codes have in marketing campaigns will ensnare Knoxville residents and visitors to the city. Depending on the success of this initiative, the program may expand its use of the codes in the future.
