What if virtual exhibitions and fairs were not just temporary stop gaps until the world goes back to normal, but new options with their own distinct benefits? 

ArtCity, a new internet-based platform, is attempting to make that shift by creating an online art-viewing experience that is fun, intuitive to use, and draws on the unique capabilities of the internet.

Created by the Brussels-based firm MasterArt, ArtCity is launching its inaugural online week this month with a fair from October 23 to 28. 

Courtesy of ArtCity.

The platform’s reps describe it as a “virtual community of buildings and houses providing links to leading galleries, partner corporations, and cultural institutions.”

One can simply enter a navigable online world, akin to a video-game city. Visitors are greeted by an aerial view of a city plan, where each building houses a different exhibitor. Zoom in and enter each building (designed to exhibitors’ specifications) and discover artworks by clicking around. 

What ArtCity really hopes to cultivate is a storytelling capability that other online viewing rooms have hitherto lacked. Viewers can immediately access details about each work’s creation, provenance, and even data about its value.

News, education, and entertainment geared towards collectors are just a click away—as is access to dealers. Interested collectors can click to call, text, or email galleries about works, or click to purchase them immediately. 

Check it out for yourself by registering for the inaugural ArtCity here.