International Database of Galleries | Libraries | Archives | Museums

At IDbGLAM, we believe in the power of collective knowledge and skill to preserve and celebrate the world’s cultural heritage. Our Curators, a global network of passionate contributors, play an essential role in enriching the platform by sharing insights, discoveries, and stories from galleries, libraries, archives, and museums. As a Curator, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your knowledge, contribute to meaningful discussions, and help build an international resource for the preservation of art, culture, and history.

Galleries

Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

This museum tells the multifaceted story of America by portraying individuals who have shaped the nation’s history, development, and culture.

Libraries

Libraries are institutions that house collections of books, periodicals, and other forms of printed and digital materials for research, education, and enjoyment. They typically offer access to a wide range of knowledge across various subjects.

Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial Library

The library founded by Philip II in the Escorial Monastery not only responds to one of the main concerns that the King had throughout his life, that of collecting and hoarding books but also to one of the fundamental ideals of humanism. Humanists such as Juan Páez de Castro, Juan Bautista Cardona, Antonio Agustín, Ambrosio de Morales, Benito Arias Montano, etc., collaborated in the monarch's plans to create a royal library. In the texts in which they expressed their opinions on this ambitious project, which are still preserved, we find the explanation that the current premises that we know as…

Archives

Archives of American Art

This archive collects and preserves documents and records related to the history of the visual arts in the United States.

Museums

Museums are dedicated to preserving and interpreting objects of cultural, historical, and artistic significance. They offer a space for the public to engage with collections through exhibitions, educational programs, and research, offering insights into the achievements, creativity, and heritage of humanity across various disciplines​

Guggenheim Bilbao

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao was the result of an extraordinary partnership between the Basque Institutions and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. More than two decades after its grand opening in October 1997, the Museum is a reality that has exceeded the most ambitious artistic and cultural expectations, and has contributed in an extraordinary way to the urban, economic, and social regeneration of the city of Bilbao and its surroundings.

Similarities

• All four institutions are dedicated to preserving and sharing knowledge, culture, and history.
• They often offer educational programs, exhibitions, and events to engage the public.
• They serve as repositories of human creativity, heritage, and achievement.

Differences

• Galleries primarily focus on visual arts, while libraries emphasize books and other printed materials.
• Archives specialize in preserving historical records and documents, while museums can contain various objects beyond just documents.
• Libraries and archives typically allow for in-depth research and study, while museums often favor public exhibitions and displays.
• Museums often have a broader scope, encompassing various disciplines, while galleries tend to focus more narrowly on visual arts.