Bloomberg Philanthropies has announced a three-year, $15 million commitment in support of efforts to increase access to the arts and enhance visitor experiences through mobile technology.

The Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum will each receive support to replace traditional audio guides with state-of-the-art mobile guides that utilize GPS and 3D-imaging technologies. The mobile apps, which will be integrated with the museums' Web sites, will provide access to audio and video content, interviews with curators and artists, maps, and paperless ticketing. The Guggenheim Museum launched its mobile app this week, while the other four institutions plan to launch theirs by the end of 2014.

The commitment is part of the Bloomberg Arts Engagement Initiative, which has provided $57 million since 1999 to help cultural institutions enhance audience engagement globally. Previous recipients include the American Museum of Natural History and the Jewish Museum in New York City, the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, and the Tate Modern in London.

"For me, support for the arts has always been about connecting people with culture by making it as accessible as possible to the greatest number of people," said New York City mayor and Bloomberg Philanthropies founder Michael R. Bloomberg. "Of course improving access doesn't stop once people get in the door. That's why Bloomberg Philanthropies is providing funds for leading institutions to create visitor experiences that are as revolutionary as the exhibits themselves. Through cutting-edge technology, institutions like the Guggenheim can provide visitors with the kind of experience that before would only be possible with the help of a seasoned curator."