How we work with cultural institutions to bring their collections to everyone

For over a decade, Google Arts & Culture has helped cultural institutions like museums share their stories and reach wider audiences. In today’s fast-paced digital era, there’s been a significant shift in the way museums and other cultural organizations have used technology to share their stories and collections. Engaging content has always been essential, but over the years we’ve learned that its adaptability across platforms is paramount.

For International Museum Day on May 18th — an annual celebration honoring the role of museums as agents of cultural exchange, enrichment and education — we’re exploring three ways a simple yet powerful feature, such as embedding content, has helped empower institutions to seamlessly share their narratives across diverse platforms.

1) Enhance the collection

Embed isn't just about accessibility — it's about amplifying impact. Most cultural institutions around the world make their collections visible on their websites. Embedding Google Arts & Culture content can offer deeper insights into a theme, such as the Museum of Art and Photography in India, which has embedded Matchbox Momentos, a playful exploration of its archives with the help of AI; or by offering an exploration of paintings in high resolution at London’s Courtauld Gallery or the Malba Museum in Buenos Aires.

2) Help everyone plan their visit

Ensuring visitors have essential information right from the start when they visit a cultural institution’s official website is vital for enhancing their cultural experience. From Spain's famous Santiago de Compostela’s Cathedral to the dazzling opera theaters across France are examples of providing more details for visitors by showcasing their historical and artistic significance as well as immersive, virtual exploration to help plan their journey.

3) Enrich physical exhibitions with a digital companion

Physical exhibitions that are on view for a limited amount of time can be explored deeper with additional content, like the Televisa Foundation and Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico or the Quirinale President’s Palace in Rome.

As we celebrate International Museum Day, institutions around the world are sharing their stories and collections. We’re seeing this from the Museum of the Stock Exchange in Sao Paulo to the Casa Museo Quinta de Bolívar in Bogotà; and includes marvels as wide-reaching as the intricate displays of the Latvian Museum of Decorative Art and Design to the captivating architecture of the Riga Bourse Museum. It’s captured in the pristine landscapes under Parks Canada’s supervision, the art in Tokyo’s public places, the artistry of Ottoman painters in Iraq, and in the breathtaking UNESCO heritage sites in Rwanda.

With features like embed, these places, stories and great works can become even more accessible, bridging the gap between new audiences and cultural enthusiasts worldwide.

Explore more online or on the Google Arts & Culture app for Android and iOS.