Images of more than 2,000 works in SJMA’s collection now available on website for first time following two-year project funded by IMLS 

SAN JOSE, California (January 3, 2014)—Today the San Jose Museum of Art launches a new, online database of its permanent collection. SJMA has more than 2,500 works in its collection, only a small fraction of which are on view in the galleries at any given time. The online database, now accessible at collection.sjmusart.org, makes the collection available to the public with images of more than 2,000 of these objects. The website is the result of a two-year project (funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services) to catalogue, photograph, and digitize objects as well as convert the images and accompanying information into the new database. Visitors may browse the collection by artist, medium, or genre, or find specific works using keywords. 

IMLS awarded SJMA the Museums for America grant to fund the project in 2011. Previously, only a handful of images of works in the collection were online. The project also provided internships for graduate students in the School of Library and Information Science at San Jose State University (the largest accredited library and information science program in the world). 

“Whereas special loan exhibitions come and go, the Museum’s permanent collection is here to stay. It belongs to the public and is an important community resource,” said Susan Krane, Oshman Executive Director of SJMA. “This project reflects the Museum’s concerted effort to share this growing resource with the community.” 

The website will increase awareness and public use of SJMA’s distinctive collection of modern and contemporary art. SJMA has earned a reputation for acquiring works by pivotal artists very early in their careers; for its longstanding support of 

California artists; and for its commitment to the work of groundbreaking, independent thinkers. Over the course of the Museum's history, the City of San Jose has metamorphosed from an agricultural community into the capital of Silicon Valley, a hub of innovation and global thinking. Accordingly, SJMA has expanded the scope of its collections to reflect the high-tech interests, dynamic cultural diversity, innovative spirit, and international scope of its communities. 

The San Jose Museum of Art's permanent collection includes approximately 2,500 modern and contemporary artworks. The collection has grown at an unprecedented pace over the past decade, in large part thanks to the generosity of artists, collectors, individual donors, and the members of the Acquisitions Committee and the Council of 100. SJMA now boasts many works of major significance, including works by Ruth Asawa, Sandow Birk, Elmer Bischoff, Joan Brown, Jim Campbell, Enrique Chagoya, Robert Colescott, Eric Fischl, Roy De Forest, Carmen Lomas Garza, Andy Goldsworthy, Doug Hall, Tim Hawkinson, Hung Liu, Bari Kumar, Louise Nevelson, Manuel Ocampo, Catherine Opie, Tony Oursler, Bill Owens, Alan Rath, Jennifer Steinkamp, Larry Sultan, Masami Teraoka, Bill Viola, Catherine Wagner, William Wiley, Paul Wonner, and other artists. 

The project’s advisory committee included key SJMA staff and Rebecca Kohn, associate librarian at San Jose State University Library and Liaison to Art and Art History, Design, and Philosophy at SJSU; Lori Lindberg, student liaison and academic advisor, School of Library and Information Science, SJSU; and Rebecca M. Schapp, director, de Saisset Museum, Santa Clara University. 

IMLS 

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov. 

SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART 

The San Jose Museum of Art celebrates new ideas, stimulates creativity, and inspires connection with every visit. Welcoming and thought-provoking, the Museum rejects stuffiness and delights visitors with its surprising and playful perspective on the art and artists of our time. 

The San Jose Museum of Art is located at 110 South Market Street in downtown San Jose, California. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 PM to 5 PM and until 8 PM or later on the third Thursday of each month. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens, and free to members and children under 6. For more information, call 408-271-6840 or visit www.SanJoseMuseumofArt.org. 

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Programs at the San Jose Museum of Art are made possible by generous operating support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Lipman Family Foundation, the Richard A. Karp Charitable Foundation, the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San Jose, and, with support for exhibition development, Yvonne and Mike Nevens.