NYArtBeat: Navigating the NYC Art Scene

Whenever you arrive at a new location, it can be a pain to scour the city for new artsy parties and events, especially when you’re in a city as large and diverse as The Big Apple. Luckily, you don’t have to go in blind. Step into the 21st Century where your phone can serve as your personal guide to the local art scene (of course there’s an app for that — duh).

We’re not talking about a mediocre events app either. Once Gaming Realms, owners and operators of Spin Genie, officially declared that growth in mobile browsing is the most powerful trend on the internet landscape, hoards of event tracking sites optimized their content for mobile users. New York Art Beat (NYAB), however, takes it to the next level by providing an app that those interested in the NY art scene can download directly onto their phones.

NYAB specializes in bringing event listings and user-generated reviews to its readers, with events categorized as “Ending Soon”, “Starting Soon”, “Just Started” and “Opening Receptions”, and further filtered based on medium and genre, it’s easy to find events that fit into your schedule. You can even filter events by area, so you can create a plan for your art night right from your phone.

The app also gives the added functionality of pulling up a map at any time, where the event you selected would be plotted, so there’s no getting lost in search of a new exhibit again. Inviting friends to events has also never been easier, as the app comes fully integrated with Twitter, allowing you to send out invites to Twitter followers with just one tap of your finger.

The problem with these apps is often the lack of updates, but thankfully, NYAB’s app is synced with content on their website, which is constantly updated both by its webmasters and the active community.

NYAB is available on iTunes / GooglePlay, and should prove to be a great tool next time you’re in New York looking for a great art show.