New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation (NOTMC) and Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans (PRC) have partnered to enhance a mobile app that directly connects visitors and locals to New Orleans’ history and culture.
The “Jazz Houses” app was initially launched in 2014 by PRC and CultureConnect as a free resource for fans of both jazz and architectural heritage. Now it is being re-released just in time for Jazz Fest with new enhancements made possible by support from NOTMC.
Since 2002, PRC’s African American Heritage Preservation Program and the New Orleans Jazz Commission (NOJC) have worked together to identify and commemorate the former homes of influential jazz musicians with the installation of historic markers, or “jazz plaques”. More than 60 markers have been placed on homes across the city, and more than 500 sites have been identified.
The “Jazz Houses” app was created to enliven the history behind jazz plaques, melding music clips with images of the musicians, houses, and neighborhoods, into a virtual tour of New Orleans’ jazz heritage.
With the new enhancements, users will now be able to choose from multiple tour and gallery designs and customize the app according to their preferences. Maps of musiciansâ homes will now integrate with native Google or Apple maps both on phones and desktops. The entire app will optimize for every screen size, including phones, tablets, and computer desktops.
The new look and feel of Jazz Houses features an easy-to-use media uploader, appropriate image sizes, an intuitive and easy-to-use content management system, and complete user control to customize as desired.
Some of the jazz greats featured on the app include Professor Longhair, Jelly Roll Morton, Jo King Oliver and Louis Armstrong, among many others. By associating early jazz musicians with the spaces in which they lived, “Jazz Houses” seeks to connect new audiences to the rich musical heritage of New Orleans in a more personal way.
To download the “Jazz Houses” app, visit bit.do/jazzhouses or text Jazz to 99000 from your mobile phone or tablet.
The musician narratives were researched and written by Dr. Jack Stewart for use on the plaques and in the app. Images used in the app were provided courtesy of the New Orleans Jazz Club Collection at the LA State Museum, the Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University, and The Historic New Orleans Collection. Music clips from early musicians were made available by the GHB Jazz Foundation.
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About CultureConnect
CultureConnect is a mobile technology platform that empowers museums and cultural institutions to bring their collections to life using mobile technology. With their easy-to-use platform, museums can create custom tours, interactive exhibits, and education tools that engage people where they spend their time: on smartphones and tablets. To see a demo or learn how to bring mobile to your institution, visit www.cultureconnectme.com or email hello@cultureconnectme.com. Connect on Facebook and Twitter (@ culturexconnect).
About New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation (NOTMC)
NOTMC promotes the city as a leisure tourism destination throughout the year. Annually, NOTMC’s marketing campaigns include strategic digital and broadcast TV advertising, social media and public relations. Websites: neworleansonline.com, followyourNOLA.com, and GoNOLA.com. Social media: Facebook.com/NewOrleans, Twitter.com/VisitNewOrleans, Instagram.com/VisitNewOrleans, Pinterest.com/VisitNewOrleans, and YouTube.com/gonolatv.
About Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans (PRC)
PRC celebrates 40 years of promoting the preservation, restoration and revitalization of New Orleans’ historic architecture and neighborhoods. Founded in 1974, PRC is a non-profit organization that has restored nearly 1,500 properties citywide and has assisted countless individuals with their own renovation efforts through its outreach and advocacy programs. PRC provides resources and education to convey the economic, cultural and aesthetic importance of historic preservation in New Orleans and throughout the world. For more information about PRC and its revitalization efforts, call 504.581.7032, email prc@prcno.org, or visit www.prcno.org. Connect with PRC on Facebook, Twitter (@PRCNO), and Flickr.
