Open Access to Cultural Heritage: A Guide for Institutions
André Barbosa - Monday, December 1, 2025
Understanding open access to cultural heritage is essential for institutions that want to move from “closed collections” to true open culture.
This guide will help you understand:
- What “open access to cultural heritage” means in practice
- Which Creative Commons tools and licenses are most appropriate
- The main benefits and challenges of opening collections
- Key steps to release collections responsibly
- Real-world examples from leading open access institutions
What Is Open Access to Cultural Heritage?
Open access to cultural heritage means that anyone can freely access, use, and reuse digitized heritage materials online, with at most requirements for attribution and maintaining openness.
Key Characteristics
- Materials are available online, easy to find, and free of charge for users.
- Digital files and metadata are in formats that support download, reuse, and interoperability.
- Rights information is clear, using public domain tools or open CC licenses that allow reuse.
- Reusers can copy, share, and adapt materials without asking for extra permission (beyond license terms).
What Counts as Open Access?
- Yes: High‑resolution images of public domain works under CC0 or Public Domain Mark, with open metadata and bulk download options.
- Sometimes: CC BY or CC BY-SA collections that allow broad reuse but still require attribution or ShareAlike.
- Not really: Low‑res previews behind paywalls, “all rights reserved” reproductions, or unclear terms that block reuse.
Licenses and Tools for Open Culture
Goal: Avoid re‑closing what is already part of the commons. For public domain heritage, use tools that keep it open instead of adding new restrictions.
Public Domain Tools
CC0 (Public Domain Dedication)
- Waives rights to the extent possible, placing reproductions and data in the public domain.
- Used by institutions like the Smithsonian and The Met for millions of collection images and datasets.
- Best choice for digitized public domain works and collection metadata when the institution holds rights.
Public Domain Mark (PDM)
- Signals that a work is already free of known copyright (e.g., term expired, never protected).
- Does not create new rights, just clarifies that the work is in the public domain.
- Useful for very old works where the institution wants to mark, not license.
Open Creative Commons Licenses
CC BY (Attribution)
- Allows reuse, remix, and commercial use, as long as proper attribution is given.
- Often used when institutions want recognition for digitization or curatorial work.
- Recommended for original content where full public domain dedication is not appropriate.
CC BY-SA (Attribution–ShareAlike)
- Requires attribution and that adaptations are released under the same or compatible license.
- Ensures that derivatives remain open, which can be attractive for community‑driven projects.
- Less flexible when mixing with content under other licenses because of ShareAlike constraints.
Use with caution for heritage: CC BY-NC and CC BY-ND significantly limit reuse and are generally not recommended as defaults for digitized cultural heritage, because they block many educational, research, and creative uses.
Benefits vs. Challenges of Open Access
| Aspect | Benefits of Open Access | Challenges of Open Access |
|---|---|---|
| Access & Equity | Removes unfair barriers so people everywhere can connect with heritage, regardless of location or income. | Requires investment in digitization, description, and platforms to reach under‑served audiences. |
| Reuse & Innovation | Enables creative, educational, and scientific reuse that supports vibrant societies and new knowledge. | Raises concerns about misuse, misinterpretation, or low‑quality derivatives if context is weak. |
| Institutional Mission | Aligns with the dual mission of preserving heritage and enabling public use for the common good. | May disrupt existing business models based on licensing or paid image services. |
| Visibility | Increases global visibility through search engines, aggregators, and open data platforms. | Demands consistent branding, metadata quality, and rights statements across many channels. |
| Preservation | Distributed copies and reuse can support resilience of heritage in case of local loss or damage. | Still needs robust in‑house digital preservation strategies and infrastructure. |
| Ethics & Sensitivity | Openness can surface marginalized histories and support more inclusive storytelling. | Some materials (e.g. Indigenous heritage, sensitive archives) require restrictions and community consent. |
Key Steps When Releasing Collections
1. Map Rights and Content Types
- Identify public domain works, in‑copyright works owned by the institution, and third‑party or orphan works.
- Separate what can be fully open (CC0/PDM) from what needs more careful handling or restricted access.
- Document decisions and rationales so future staff understand why specific choices were made.
2. Choose the Right Legal Tools
- Use PDM for works clearly in the public domain.
- Use CC0 for reproductions and data when the institution can waive rights and wants maximum reuse.
- Use CC BY or CC BY-SA for original content that should remain open but still credits the institution.
- Avoid adding NC/ND to public domain reproductions, to prevent “copyfraud” and unnecessary enclosure.
3. Build Technical and Metadata Foundations
- Provide high‑quality, downloadable files (not just small previews) in sustainable formats.
- Create rich, structured metadata and release it under CC0 to support aggregation and research.
- Offer 2025 or bulk access where possible so developers and researchers can work at scale.
4. Engage Communities and Address Sensitivity
- Consult with communities connected to the heritage, especially around sensitive or contested material.
- Use rights and access frameworks that allow for ethical restrictions where needed, even when copyright would permit openness.
- Invite feedback and co‑curation to improve descriptions, translations, and contextual information.
5. Communicate Policy and Support Reuse
- Publish a clear open access policy that explains scope, tools (CC0, PDM, CC BY), and any exclusions.
- Provide examples and guidelines that show users how to attribute and reuse materials responsibly.
- Track impact stories and reuse cases to demonstrate value internally and to funders.
Institutions Leading Open Access
Rijksmuseum (Netherlands)
The Rijksmuseum uses open tools to release high‑quality images of public domain works and collection data, and has become a reference case for open GLAM practice.
Smithsonian Institution (USA)
Through Smithsonian Open Access, the institution released millions of 2D and 3D images plus metadata under public-domain‑equivalent terms, encouraging reuse and creative experimentation.
Metropolitan Museum of Art (USA)
The Met’s Open Access policy makes images of public domain works and basic collection data freely reusable, supporting both educational and commercial projects without additional permission.
Europeana
Europeana aggregates digital cultural heritage from thousands of European institutions, promoting open metadata, standardized rights statements, and best practices for digital openness.
From Closed Collections to Open Culture
Practical Starting Points
- Begin with a pilot set of clearly public domain works and release them with CC0 and high‑quality metadata.
- Align open access with institutional mission statements and strategic plans rather than treating it as a side project.
- Join networks and initiatives focused on open GLAM to learn from peers and share your own experiences.