Smithsonian opens up digital collection

The Smithsonian's Freer and Sackler galleries have opened up their holdings, publishing over 40,000 pieces of art online (see Engadget article here and F/S Gallery page here). This is one of my favorite museums in DC, so it is great to see these works now available for non-commercial use online.

Source: F/S Gallery by James McNeil Whistler, 1859

According to the website, non-commercial use covers a variety of options, such as "artistic, educational, scholarly, and personal projects that will not be marketed, promoted, or sold. Examples include, but are not limited to, presentations, research, tattoos, sixth-grade science fair projects, tablet backgrounds, free and ad-free apps, GIFs, holiday centerpieces, Halloween costumes, decoupage, inspiration boards, and shower curtains." For more see the official Smithsonian Terms of Use for Digital Assets (pdf).

Freer & Sackler Gallery works can now be used with attribution on personal blogs such as this one, adding some visual interest to the stories we tell.