Our Cultural institutions Page highlights our ongoing support of museums and cultural institutions with free accounts and access to tools. In Cultural Heritage Spotlight, we’ll explore museums who are using 3D technology to bring new life to their collections.
France Collections 3D is a project from the Agence Photo de la Réunion des Musées Nationaux – Grand Palais with the goal to create 3D reproductions of many iconic works in French museums. France Collections 3D also boosts the spread of museum heritage knowledge by providing guidance to museums who are digitizing their collections across the country.
They provide 3D content that can be used by museums for in situ and online exhibitions for artistic and cultural education, and for new uses in 3D printing, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. They are also responding to the increasing needs of digital publishers of video games, education, applications, animation studios and digital post production studios for 3D content.
One of the first national museums to be involved is the National Archaeological Museum (MAN), which began in a vast campaign of 3D scanning its collections in 2014. Thus 3D models of major parts of its collections are made available to all. The Musee Archeologie Nationale in France has integrated 3D models on their own website for visitors to browse and more of their collection can be found on Sketchfab.
Interestingly, the MAN has one of the main collections of archeology in the world. France Collections will scan some of their most iconic artworks (in particular, the Salle Piette or Lady with a Hood) in December 2015. It is a significant art work that has been documented in film as, at 25,000 years old, it is the oldest known portrait in the history of humanity.
The Musée d’Archéologie Nationale (MAN) has also spread its collection across the Atlantic. The current exhibition “Celts” at the British Museum includes objects lent by the MAN that can also be viewed online:
From the same site, the Applique Circulaire is on loan to the Louvre from October 12th and is exhibited in the Petite Galerie, a new space dedicated to artistic education.
The Château de Pau has also begun to digitize its collection and includes 3D models on its own site for visitors to explore.
Other museums in France are joining, and their works can be found steadily appearing in the France Collections folder on Sketchfab. We look forward to seeing even more innovative uses in the future.
If you are part of a cultural institution, get in touch with us at museums@sketchfab.com to set up your free business account.
About the author
Natalia Krasnodebska
Previously Head of Communications at Sketchfab, now Jewelry designer at bynatalia.com
