In 2020, the New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts launched the AR+ art by NHBCA App—an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) platform designed to bring #NHArtAnywhere. And we meant anywhere—users could place a virtual gallery wall in their home or office, viewing art in their own environment and taking it with them on an iOS device wherever Wi-Fi was available.

The NHBCA prided itself on embracing technology to make the arts more accessible by partnering with businesses and the creative sector. Throughout the project, we collaborated on notable initiatives with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health and the League of NH Craftsmen, including the AR+ art exhibition Looking Glass: Exploring Art Through Augmented Reality. Additionally, we were honored to partner with New England College and NHTI in Concord to produce exhibitions featuring artwork by students, faculty and alumni. In recognition of our efforts, the NHBCA was honored with the Business and Industry Association's New Hampshire Advantage Award in 2022.

These art explorations were the first of their kind in the greater New Hampshire area. Augmented reality served as a powerful digital tool that allowed art and fine craft to be “digitally placed” anywhere, including at businesses and public locations—eliminating the physical constraints of space, security, or installation logistics.

The beauty of these virtual art experiences was their ability to make the arts widely available through the AR+ art App, enabling users to interact with New England art and artists on their own terms. It was a truly dynamic project that provided a new way to experience art, especially impactful during the challenges of the pandemic.