Case overview
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is the national museum of the Netherlands. Renowned for its extensive collection of over one million artworks, the museum is dedicated to Dutch art and history from the years 1200 to 2000. Currently the museum has on display 8000 artefacts from the total collection including masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt and Van Gogh.
The museum has recognized the importance of being accessible to all visitors, and has been dedicated to improve their accessibility and inclusive offers. Indeed the museum has implemented various initiatives, such as guided tours for visitors with visual impairments, sensory-friendly evenings, and family tours designed for children with special needs.
More information about Rijksmuseum’s accessibility
Implementation actions: In line with this commitment, in 2023 the museum partnered with Microsoft to leverage AI technology and develop audio descriptions for its extensive collection. The aim of the initiative was to provide detailed and vivid descriptions. These descriptions detailed the scene, colours, and mood of each piece, allowing visually impaired visitors to fully experience the artworks.
The project used Microsoft’s Azure AI Computer Vision and Azure OpenAI to analyse artworks and elaborate the audio descriptions to vividly capture the entirety of the artwork.
An essential component that ensured the success of this initiative was the participation of the visually impaired community in the process. The museum worked closely with the visually impaired community, conducting workshops to gather feedback and refine the AI-generated descriptions . This approach ensured that the audio descriptions being developed actually met the needs of the target audience and allowed them to explore the artwork accurately.
Results
Increased accessibility
Visually impaired visitors now have equal access to the museum’s rich collection through detailed and engaging audio descriptions. Feedback from the visually impaired community highlighted the initiative’s success in making them feel included and valued.
Scalability
The AI tools enabled the museum to process descriptions for thousands of artworks in hours—a task that would have taken decades manually.
Challenges and learnings
Data preparation
Creating accurate descriptions required extensive collaboration between art historians, AI experts and users from the visually impaired community.
Continuous improvement
Continuous updates and community input were vital to ensure the relevance and quality of the descriptions.
Key takeaways
AI as an enabler
AI technologies can significantly enhance accessibility, making cultural experiences inclusive for all.
Collaboration is crucial
Partnerships with technology experts and input from target audiences ensure the effectiveness of accessibility initiatives.
Scalability and efficiency
AI provides a scalable solution to accessibility challenges, allowing cultural institutions to make large collections accessible rapidly.
Links for visuals and resources:
Watch a short video about the AI-generated audio descriptions at the Rijksmuseum.
Article “Envisioning the Future of Museum Accessibility Through Artificial Intelligence”