Art Palace museum reaches milestone with online exhibits

Tbilisi’s Art Palace venue achieved a new milestone this week after its exhibition of artwork on Google Arts and Culture online platform became the largest digital repository from the South Caucasus.

The popular museum attained the status after three new collections with hundreds of exhibits were added to its page on the world’s largest online art database.

Historical Georgian costumes, fine art exhibits and the story of the museum itself are now available for viewing on the website.

A ceremonial dress of Queen Tamar of Georgia, represented in the Art Palace collection of historical costumes. Photo: Art Palace. 

These include the story of a famous ceremonial dress of Queen Tamar of Georgia, who reigned over the most successful historical period for the country from 1184-1213.

Other exhibits showcase dances by Georgia’s celebrated Sukhishvilebi National Ballet troupe and paintings by some of the most prominent Georgian artists including David Kakabadze, Elene Akhvlediani and Sergo Kobuladze.

The new additions joined the maiden collection from Art Palace, telling the story of the Georgian, modernist painter, Petre Otskheli.

Painter David Kakabadze's 1947 sketch for the play 'Commander of the Station' (1947). Photo: Art Palace. 

Now featuring over 300 exhibits from its vaults on the website, the museum has become the largest exhibitor on the online platform from South Caucasus.

Art Palace kick-started its collaboration with the platform, created by Google Cultural Institute, last year.

Paintings, sketches and the life story of Petre Otskheli were added to the Google Arts and Culture website in the first step of the initiative.

One of Art Palace collections on Google Arts and Culture focuses on the story of the Tbilisi venue itself. Photo: Art Palace. 

The move put the Tbilisi venue, known for its unique 19th century architecture, among museums from across the world featured by the website. It also became the first Georgian museum to be featured on the website.

Art Palace staff revealed they were in ongoing talks with Google to add more collections on the museum page on the platform.