WANT to find the best art in Yorkshire? There’s an app for that!

An innovative new iPhone app is being launched for users to explore the county’s culture in the palm of their hands and create their own art-viewing itinerary.

Created for the Art In Yorkshire – Supported By Tate 2011 programme of exhibitions in 19 galleries, the Tate iPhone App is the first of its kind in Yorkshire.

The free app lets users find the nearest participating gallery, watch videos about the artists featured, create a favourites’ list and plan their route around the exhibitions taking place across the region from York to Sheffield.

The app offers biographical information, images and podcasts on such artists such as David Hockney, Damien Hirst, Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore, encouraging visitors to “discover art that they might not normally go and see”.

Janet Barnes, chief executive of York Museums Trust, says: “We’re very pleased with the app and we think it will prove to be a useful tool for people wanting to find out more about Art In Yorkshire.

“It’s easy to use and provides concise information about all of the exhibitions taking place across Yorkshire. But it also enables people to check very quickly what exhibitions are near to them at that moment, so you can easily make choices on where to visit.”

Visitors can tell others what they think about exhibitions by using the pioneering ‘Appinion’ feature on the app. Once visitors have discovered the unique code at each exhibition, they can unlock Appinion, share their thoughts and read what others have to say. Android and other smartphone users can join in with Appinion by scanning the QR code or taking the URL home to enter later.

The app has been created by Leeds contemporary art organisation Axis (axisweb.org) with digital agency Fuse 8 (fuse8.com) in response to a brief from York Museums Trust.

• A link to download the free app is available at art.yorkshire.com/get-the-app, while the Art In Yorkshire website is optimised for mobile devices and can be found at art.yorkshire.com