By Ed Avis
Several IRgA members have succeeded with fine art reproduction, a specialized niche that requires high-quality color scanners and inkjet printers that can capture and reproduce artwork for museums, galleries, collectors, designers and related businesses.
Heidi Thompson, a veteran public relations consultant for the imaging industry, has been observing the fine art reproduction niche for years, and in March she launched Global Art Reproduction, a source of information in this niche and a network of service providers. She said she would welcome IRgA members who serve this niche to join her network, free of charge.
Thompson is passionate about the opportunity that digital tools that can provide to the fine art world.
“I was recently at a museum conference in Philadelphia, and the attendees were so empowered doing their job of presenting culture the way was and the way it continues to be,” Thompson says. “There was a lot of interest among the people I spoke with about fine art reproduction.”
Thompson also recently authored a market report called Charting the Next Era of Art Reproduction, which examines how advances in digital preservation and inkjet printing are helping institutions safeguard their collections while opening new opportunities for engagement. And she is launching a podcast that will include interviews with service providers in this space.
IRgA members interested in being added to the network – which includes a searchable map to make it easy for potential clients to find service providers – can click here.
“As advocates for fine art reproduction, our goal with Global Art Reproduction is to provide a platform that supports the preservation and appreciation of art through high-quality reproductions,” Thompson says. “Only in recent years has technology progressed to make truly accurate, one-to-one reproductions possible. This allows institutions to preserve and share art in new ways, and we hope to encourage more reproduction to broaden access.”