ArtMap
How we’ve rewritten the map of the Czech arts scene - both figuratively and literally.
In the Czech Republic, it’s easy to find an interesting event or a place to spend the evening. Our cultural scene is very lively and diverse, and ArtMap, a time-tested digital guide to Czech culture, helps you navigate all the concerts, art openings, and performances. And when the time came for a major overhaul of their platform, they turned to us. We faced the migration of thousands of data points, a new architecture, and a redesign.
Challenge
ArtMap has long connected cultural institutions, exhibitions, and events across the Czech regions. However, the original solution was no longer sufficient in terms of capacity. The platform maintains a database of approximately 1,200 institutions, making it one of the most comprehensive overviews of the country’s contemporary arts infrastructure. And it needed a more robust technological foundation to continue growing.
Solution
Migrate a database of approximately 1,200 institutions without any data loss. Design a robust web architecture ready for future development. Develop a minimalist visual identity and logo into a system that functions within the digital online presentation. Redesign the interactive map using the Google Maps framework. Create an open platform for institutions to manage their own profiles. Ensure long-term sustainability through expanded sponsored content options.
As part of the visual identity, we decided to keep the logo. We built the opening animation around it, and it serves as the core of the entire design - the vectors that create perspectives, navigation, and the direction of culture across the Czech Republic. Simple lines in the background of the pages themselves reinforce this core and help the design breathe more as you scroll. And all this without losing the cornerstones of its visual identity.
The data migration was not merely a technical routine. Transferring thousands of records accurately, consistently, and without disrupting the live platform required meticulous preparation. We are proud to say that we pulled it off without a hitch. Institutional users noticed the change only in the form of improved performance and a more intuitive interface.
At the heart of the new ArtMap is an interactive map built on the Google Maps framework. It functions as a fully integrated part of the system. It links the database of institutions and exhibitions with their geographical context, allows users to filter by region and event type, and helps them plan cultural outings and discover the local arts scene.
Redesigning the map was one of the project’s biggest challenges. It had to be clear, fast, and intuitive—while handling hundreds of data points at once. And the result is well worth it: finding your way around cultural offerings across the entire country is now just a few clicks away.
“It wasn’t just a visual redesign, but a modernization of the platform’s entire digital infrastructure. The goal was to create a stable and flexible system capable of handling the database’s scale and ArtMap’s future growth.”
- Štěpán Kleník, founder of Brainz Studios
A good product must also be sustainable. The new website therefore expands the possibilities for content presentation and sponsored placement. This gives institutions and cultural partners a tool to increase their visibility, while ArtMap strengthens its business model without relying on one-time grants.
The website was launched in February 2026 in Czech. Further development of features and additional language versions is outlined in the long-term roadmap. The goal is clear: to transform the site from a local directory into a true reference platform for the Czech cultural infrastructure and to expand the project internationally.
ArtMap is a project that serves the entire Czech cultural scene. And that is a responsibility we have embraced from day one. The result is a platform that stands up to scrutiny both technically and visually, can scale to meet the client’s ambitions, and remains user-friendly for the thousands of people who use it every day to plan their cultural experiences.
A robust architecture, an intuitive map, a clean redesign, and the successful migration of approximately 1,200 institutions. These are the foundations on which ArtMap will continue to grow—and we’re glad we could help make that happen.
