AUSTIN, Texas – A new program is letting Austinites chose their own adventure through downtown Austin.

The Art in Public Spaces program, Wander, takes users on a journey starting outside the Austin Central Library at a nine-foot steel sculpture.

The adventure begins by opening the Wander app to see four possible story-based quests. Each story is a new work of fiction written and illustrated by Austin artists.

Once users pick a story path, they will receive the first chapter of their adventure. Each location the adventure takes users to will unlock the next chapter.

One of the creators, Chadwick Wood, said he hopes the project will help visitors and locals explore the city.

“A big part of it is about exploring the city, about discovering new parts of the city,” said Wood. “Maybe even things that you’ve walked by and never really noticed before, or things that you have noticed before, but you never really knew of the story behind it.”

The city of Austin is backing the program as an effort to get people to explore downtown.

The local authors who collaborated on the project include Lucas Schaefer, Jessica Topacio Long, Janalyn Guo, and Fernando Flores. The narratives were illustrated by artists Brockett Davidson, Matt Rebholz, Hallie Rose Taylor, and Brian Maclaskey.

Wander debuted on Nov. 9. The app is free and family-friendly. It is available in English and Spanish.  

“Wander perfectly exemplifies the unique and ongoing collaboration between Austin’s art and technology communities,” said Meghan Wells, Manager of the Cultural Arts Division. “Through this innovative installation, locals and tourists alike will be transported on literary adventures across downtown and will engage with the City in exciting and unexpected new ways.”