Jump to content

Art Authority

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Art Authority is a company specializing in the production of fine-art reproductions catering to both art museums and consumers. The company originated from an art education app initially developed for macOS and iOS. The app presents art pieces within a virtual museum interface. It is designed for university and K–12 education and available on the iPad and iPhone. Open Door Networks and Project A designed and managed the Art Authority app between 2010 and 2016, at which time the Art Authority company took it over.[1]

The app includes a database of 100,000 works of art, over 1,500 artists, and over 1000 museums and other art locations, and is used by apps such as Art Channel on Apple TV.[2] The app and database were also instrumental in creation of the Art Authority Museum on Apple Vision Pro. [3]

The app was upgraded for the retina display concurrently with the release of the 3rd-generation iPad.[4] Exploring Art with Art Authority, an e-book companion to the app, was introduced on April 18, 2012.[5]

A partnership with Bridgeman Art Library, which enabled users to order reproductions of works from the app, was announced on May 30, 2012. It was implemented as Prints on Demand on September 25, 2012.[6]

Access to videos for many of the app's major works was added in December 2013.[7]

Promotion and use

[edit]

In 2010, Seton Hill University announced the use of Art Authority on iPads for art history classes.[8] All full-time freshmen would receive an iPad beginning in the fall 2010 semester for a $500 fee, and other students could opt into the program. The intent was that the university's deal with Open Door Networks would provide exposure for the app’s developers, and a supplemental tool for educating art students.[9] The app was used in a pilot program for Seton Hill's 20th Century Art course in the 2011 spring semester. It was met with positive reviews by students, according to assistant art professor Maureen Vissat.[10]

Art Authority was one of seven applications shown by senior VP Phil Schiller in Apple's education-focused special event at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, on January 19, 2012.[11]

Acquisitions

[edit]
An art print of "Irises" by Vincent van Gogh

In August 2016, Art Authority announced that it had acquired the art website 1000museums.com,[12] a website that sells archival reproduction prints. Subsequently, the website and product line were integrated into the app and the overarching company.[13]

In April, 2023, the owners of Art Authority and 1000museums announced that they had acquired Museum Store Products (MSP). MSP provides products to museum stores such as notebooks, mugs, magnets, etc.[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Our long, strange, 10-year trip". 9 July 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  2. ^ Drake, Monica (27 December 2012). "Where's That Picasso? An App Can Help". The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  3. ^ Flint, Jim (29 February 2024). "From Ashland to the world: A virtual museum in your hand". Ashland.news. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Bonnington, Christina (March 28, 2012). "8 Eye-Popping Retina Display Photography Apps for the New iPad". Wired. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  5. ^ "Our first Art Authority iBook – free!". 25 April 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  6. ^ "Prints on Demand". 25 September 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  7. ^ "Art Authority adds access to videos". 24 December 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  8. ^ ""Art Authority for iPad" Makes Educational Debut at Seton Hill University". setonhill.edu. Seton Hill University. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 20 Oct 2023.
  9. ^ Dennis Carter (24 Aug 2010). "Early iPad adopter to use art application this fall". ecampusnews.com. eSchoolMedia & eCampus News. Retrieved 20 Oct 2023.
  10. ^ "iPad App "Art Authority" Brings Art to Life for Seton Hill Students". setonhill.edu. Seton Hill University. 7 Jan 2011. Retrieved 20 Oct 2023.
  11. ^ Apple Education event video. Apple Inc. Event occurs at 6:30. Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  12. ^ Stiles, Greg (1 Aug 2016). "The iTunes of art". MailTribune.com. Medford, Oregon. Archived from the original on 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2017-07-21. Art Authority has acquired the digital portfolio of Seattle-based 1000Museums.
  13. ^ "Our Major Art Acquisition". 26 July 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  14. ^ "Owners of Art Authority and 1000Museums have acquired Museum Store Products". 1000museums.com. 1000museums. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
[edit]