Vapriikki makes extensive Tampere photo collection freely accessible to the public

Museo Center Vapriikki is making its extensive collection of photographs freely available to the public. The image archive houses the largest collection of photographs depicting Tampere and the surrounding Pirkanmaa region, with images dating back to the 1850s. Through the Siiri information service, approximately 200,000 digitized images will now be accessible for everyone, a significant number even on an international scale, according to Vapriikki.

Teemu Ahola, the head of collections at Vapriikki, noted that opening up collections for public use reflects a strong trend in the museum and archive sectors. “The goal is to maximize accessibility to cultural heritage materials, promote openness, and enable use,” Ahola stated in a press release.

The images are licensed under CC BY 4.0, which allows for free use, sharing, modification, and publication. When publishing these images, the source must be credited as Vapriikki’s image archive, and the name of the photographer should be included if known.

One notable photo available is the first color image of Tampere, captured by E. A. Bergius, highlighting the archive’s valuable rare items. The images can be used in online platforms, applications, books, exhibitions, presentations, and even merchandise. The license also permits commercial use, provided it complies with legal regulations. However, using images of identifiable individuals for marketing or advertising purposes requires the individual’s permission. Additionally, images must not be presented in misleading contexts or in violation of laws and good practices.

Vapriikki’s image archive will continue to publish images whose copyrights have expired or been transferred to the archive.