The Museum Data Service (MDS), a digital platform to bring together 100 million object records from collections across the UK, has launched.
The project is a collaboration between Art UK, Collections Trust and the University of Leicester. It is designed to bring together more than 100 million object records from 1,750 accredited museums and other collections across the UK.
Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the service will be an “invaluable resource” for researchers, educators, curators and content developers.
It launched last week with an initial collection of 3,129,798 records from 21 museums, and with another 1,951,719 records already in the pipeline.
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Jemma Read, global head of corporate philanthropy at Bloomberg, said: “The Museum Data Service promises to transform the UK’s cultural digital infrastructure, and we’re thrilled to be part of a collaboration that is breaking down industry silos to make this ambitious idea a reality.”
Professor Christopher Smith, chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council, said the Museum Data Service is an “exemplary and world-leading piece of digital heritage infrastructure that will make our heritage sector better and more inclusive”.
“This major milestone in the full integration of modern technology and our rich cultural heritage will create a place where anyone can access the immense resources held by our museums,” he added.
The Museum Data Service, according to a press release, is set to revolutionise the way museum data is managed and accessed. Museums can easily upload and manage their object records, and users can search for and retrieve records across multiple collections.
“Invaluable resource” for museum professionals
“The website view of the data is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Kevin Gosling, the Museum Data Service’s managing director. “There’s a lot more going on in the back end, with innovative features that allow museums to manage their data securely and share it in a controlled way.”
“The launch of the Museum Data Service is a landmark achievement for the cultural and academic sectors, offering a powerful new tool for researchers and curators,” said Professor Nishan Canagarajah, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Leicester.
As the first major user of the service, Art UK aims to double the number of artworks on its platform to 600,000 by the end of this year.
Andrew Ellis, Art UK’s director, said: “From Neolithic axe heads and Roman helmets to fossils, masterpieces of art, and iconic fashion pieces, the sheer range of object records that the MDS will house is extraordinary and will revolutionise our ability to research our museums, make them more accessible and tell untold stories about what they hold.”
Lead image credit: National Museums NI / Ulster Transport Museum
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