A consortium of Europe?s major galleries, including the National Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum, has won ?2m from the European Union?s 6th Framework Programme, for the next stage in developing an image retrieval system for works of art.
The cash comes from the EU?s Information Society Technologies (IST) funding strand.
ARTISTE, a project completed last year, enabled 2D images from galleries across Europe to be retrieved, analysed and explored by researchers and the general public. Its successor, SCULPTEUR, will develop a more sophisticated search system and explore techniques for capturing 3D images of exhibits.
The projects aim to make important collections and archives available electronically, for public enjoyment and learning, but also for study in conservation and restoration. Multiple separate collections will be accessible as though they were one single collection. Peter Walters, the UK National Contact Point for IST, said ?This project shows how science through information society technology can bring art closer to people. Truly a match made in IST heaven.?