Test Drive New Norwalk Arts Commission Mobile App on Sunday

NORWALK, CT — The Norwalk Arts Commission is hosting a public test drive a new, free mobile app this Sunday, Oct. 23, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Norwalk City Hall.

The new app is designed to help boost cultural tourism in the city, and it shows 60 points of interest to visit throughout Norwalk. Sunday's event features a tour of WPA and New Deal era art at City Hall followed by a short walk to the Grumman-St. John House and the Norwalk Green, two locations featured on “The Green to Wall Street” audio guide.

According to the arts commission, Norwalk notables who contributed audio recordings to this new resource include Postmaster Ricky Sherrod, Town Clerk Rick McQuaid, former Mayor Frank Zullo, and Rowayton Historical Society President Wendell Livingston. Cuban-born Oscar Castillo volunteered his professional voice-over services for the WPA Mural tour.

Castillo, a professional actor and “proud resident of Norwalk,” has also recorded audio tours in English and Spanish for the NYC Public Library, the Saint John Paul national shrine in Washington, the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA and the Houston Space Center.

The mobile app, which contains the five tours, can be downloaded from the Otocast website at at http://otocast.com.

“I’m excited to be part of this engaging new way for both Norwalk residents and visitors to appreciate and learn more about our thriving arts, historical, cultural and recreational assets,” said app project manager, Judith Bacal, in a statement. Members of the project team will be on hand Sunday to help people download and begin using the free app.

“Cultural tourism is a growing segment of our economy and we want visitors to enjoy themselves when they come to Norwalk," said Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling in a statement. "These self-guided tours provide a free and easy way to enjoy Norwalk’s many attractions. I am certain that everyone who tries the tours will find them to be fun and interesting.”

Besides the Arts Commission, the mobile audio guide received support from the Department of Parks and Recreation, Norwalk Public Library, the Redevelopment Agency, the Parking Authority, and the Historical Commission.

Click here for more information on the Norwalk Arts Commission, and click here for more information about Sunday's test drive event.

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