1.1. Muusa in brief
Muusa is a musem collection management database application for classification, description and cataloguing art work related information. It has been developed at the Finnish National Gallery. The database has been in use since the beginning of 2003.
MANAGEMENT OF COLLECTIONS
- MANAGEMENT OF PICTURES
- links to artworks, events, persons
- photographs, slides, digital images
- search by subject
- copyrights
- MANAGEMENT OF ARTWORKS
- loaning
- owner information
- information on condition
- location
- measurements
- acquisition
- CATALOGUING WORK
- cataloguing instructions
- classifications and vocabulary
- electronic environment
- standards
- training
- PLANNING EXHIBITIONS
- information on condition
- insurances
- transportations
- location
- measurements
- loans
- MUSEUM WORK
- conservation information
- management of loans
- owner information
- storing
- reports
- ART HISTORY RESEARCH
- connections to other works
- artist biography
- artwork information
- literature
- exhibition history
Muusa is a tool that facilitates art history research on the collections of the museum. Besides the cataloguing, classification and description work connected with the management of the art collections, it is well suited for inventories and the processing of loaning information on artworks and it also lends itself to the planning of exhibitions and other internal museum work.
Standardized conceptual reference model
Muusa complies with the standards of the international museum-specific CRM Conceptual Reference Model developed by CIDOC (21127:2006). The reference model is a tool for planning which enables the presentation of all essential information relating to the art collections in one database. The objective of the conceptual reference model is also to standardize the presentation of information so that it can easily be transferred from one system to another, for example, from museum to museum, from the museums to extensive international search databases or to “The Collections” web service.
Muusa Service
ADOPTION
- transfer of information on pictures
- transfer of information on artworks
- training
- cataloguing instructions
- instructions for use
- HelpDesk
- licenses
- software development
- protecting privacy
- server maintenance
- software maintenance
At present the Muusa application is used in 27 Finnish art museums and organizations besides the Finnish National Gallery. The Finnish National Gallery offers the user organizations a full service package, which includes the adoption of the application, training, service support and continuous development work. The museums are responsible for their own information contents, but the technical responsibility rests with the Finnish National Gallery. The development of the database and the planning of new functions are carried out in cooperation with all the user organizations.
