Case Study: Courtauld Institute of Art preserves and publishes its prestigious collection with Extensis Portfolio

The Courtauld Institute of Art Preserves and Publishes its Prestigious Collection with Portfolio

The Courtauld Institute of Art, a world‑leading centre for art history and conservation based at Somerset House in London, cares for a prestigious collection of more than 550 paintings, 9,500 prints and 16,000 photographs. After investing in an outsourced digital asset management (DAM) system following a 2001 grant, the Institute found it costly, hard to modify and difficult to maintain, and sought a more affordable, configurable solution that would integrate with its MuseumPlus collections management system.

The Courtauld implemented Extensis Portfolio, using its metadata import and media‑processing features to archive images, create on‑demand copies at multiple resolutions, and share assets across departments while linking directly to MuseumPlus. The integration improved operational efficiency, simplified internal management of high‑quality images and helped ensure the long‑term preservation of the collection.

Courtauld Institute of Art

Tom Bilson

Head of Digital Media