Getty Museum Releases 88K+ Images of Artworks: A Triumph for Open Culture
Getty Museum Releases 88K+ Images of Artworks: A Triumph for Open Culture
In a monumental move towards fostering open culture and democratizing access to art, the Getty Museum has unleashed over 88,000 digital images of its prized artworks into the public domain. This bold initiative, known as the Open Content Program, marks a significant milestone in the realm of cultural heritage accessibility.
The Open Content Program is designed to break down barriers and make high-resolution images of public domain artwork from the Getty collections freely available for study, teaching, and enjoyment. With a goal to advance the research, teaching, and practice of art and art history, the program offers unrestricted access to a wealth of artistic treasures.
Since its inception in 2013, the program has steadily grown, with over 160,000 images already released to the public. Cataloging, digitization, rights review, and publishing efforts are ongoing, ensuring a continuous influx of new images to the program on a monthly basis.
The scope of the Open Content Program is vast and diverse, encompassing over 86,000 images of works of art from the Getty Museum’s collection, including Greek and Roman antiquities, illuminated manuscripts, paintings, sculptures, and objects of decorative art. Additionally, it features over 78,000 images of art and archival material from the Getty Research Institute’s collections, documenting the rich history of European art through prints, maps, and photographs.
One of the key highlights of this release is the adoption of the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, which unequivocally places the digital images of Getty artworks into the public domain. This ensures that users can freely download, edit, and repurpose these high-resolution images without any legal restrictions, fostering a culture of creativity and innovation.
The Getty Museum’s commitment to open access is a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of preserving and sharing our cultural heritage. By embracing open culture principles, the museum not only enriches the public domain but also inspires countless creative endeavors and educational initiatives worldwide.
As advocates for open culture, we commend the Getty Museum for its pioneering efforts and encourage other cultural heritage institutions to follow suit. By embracing open access and sharing their collections with the world, museums, libraries, and archives can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable cultural landscape for all.
In conclusion, the release of over 88,000 images of artworks by the Getty Museum is not just a triumph for open culture but also a celebration of the endless possibilities that arise when creativity knows no bounds. Let us embrace this momentous occasion and continue to champion the principles of openness, collaboration, and cultural enrichment for generations to come.
