Milestones 2001 – 2021

prometheus celebrates its 20th birthday on 1 April with 110 integrated databases, over 2.7 million images and 172 licensing institutions. We are also planning an anniversary conference in autumn. In January, we also continue with the project "DigiROM: Digitale Erschließung von Postkarten und Druckgrafik des Rom e.V.“| » To the conference page
The NFDI4Culture consortium has been launched. The " Research Tools and Data Services" task area, based at prometheus, focuses on the specific requirements of the consortium with regard to the development, consolidation and certification of sustainable, interoperable research tools and data services. | » About NFDI4Culture
Our application will be migrated to the latest version of Ruby on Rails this year. In addition, more than 2 million images are now available for your research. Furthermore, our conference “Daten^7 – Digitales BilderLeben” takes place from 1 to 2 October under the topic “Data Lifecycle”.| » To the conference page
The DHd Conference – “Kritik der digitalen Vernunft” takes place from 26 February – 2 March in Cologne. In the meantime, 94 image databases have been integrated into prometheus and in some of them you can now also find additional information by linking to standards data such as GND and Wikidata.| » To the conference page
From February to October 2017, the DigiROM project is funded by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Federal Ministry of Education and Research). The aim is to prepare and design the digital indexing of postcards and graphics in the image holdings of Rom e.V. from its archive and documentation centre RomBuk.| » About the project
15 years of prometheus – that’s 88 integrated databases, over 1.5 million images, almost 10,000 personalised accesses and 159 institutions taking out licences. And that has to be celebrated. The conference “In, above, below, beyond and in between – levels of digital images” will takes place from 12-14 October! | » To the conference page
A project on automatic image recognition is initiated with the Computer Vision Group of the University of Heidelberg. First tests are carried out applying image analysis methods to crucifixion representations within prometheus. In addition, prometheus is now also available in an App, as image archive to-go. | » About the App
The new prometheus newsletter with information about the image archive and the topics Digital Image Worlds, Digital Research and Teaching is launched in a fortnightly rhythm. In addition, the software “pandora” is replaced by the more modern software version “athene”, which is also based on Ruby on Rails.| » About athene
The 1 million image mark is reached. In addition, the long-awaited upload of own images is now available and prometheus obtains the possibility of obtaining publication permits for images of the bpk for online publications as well. The year ends with the conference “Kulturelles Erbe digital”. | » To the conference page
“Meta-Image” is entering its second funding phase. In addition, the existing contract with VG Bild-Kunst will be expanded to include making photographs of works of visual art (“Lichtbilder”) accessible and their use in the context of research and teaching.| » About the copyrights of images
prometheus is now 10 years old and integrates 62 databases with a total of over 800,000 images. To mark the anniversary, prometheus is organising a conference and ceremony entitled "The digital perspective – a beautiful view? In addition, prometheus now informs its users via Facebook and Twitter.| » To the conference page
The DFG-funded joint project “Meta-Image” is being launched. The aim is to build a virtual research environment for image discourse in the image-based sciences. The project will expand the possibilities of digital image interpretation and collaborative work in prometheus. | » About Meta-Image
prometheus initiates the digital Historical Archive Cologne. After the collapse of the Cologne City Archive – one of the largest and oldest city archives in the world – prometheus and numerous supporters are making a significant contribution to the reconstruction and safeguarding of the cultural memory of the city of Cologne. | » About DHAK
From now on, prometheus can finance itself independently and cover its operating costs through licensing income. Also technically, prometheus gets a new foundation: as the successor of kleio, pandora (Ruby on Rails) becomes the driving force of the image archive and is available as freeware. | » About pandora
prometheus invites you to the conference “Bilder – Daten – Datenbanken – so kann’s gehen!” in Cologne. In addition, “perseus-a” is launched, a project funded by Rheinenergie for the automatic indexing of prometheus and the optimisation of the image archive’s search functions. | » About perseus-a
A contractual agreement is made with the collecting society BILD-KUNST to ensure the legal security of the association. In addition, prometheus initiates cooperation with the Bildportal der Kunstmuseen (bpk) for facilitating the obtaining of publication permission. | » About the copyrights of images
The licence model launches. prometheus receives transitional funding from the University of Cologne and the Sal. Oppenheim Stiftung. For the first time, prometheus awards the esPrix – a student prize for the media-didactic application of digital information. | » To the study modules
The association takes over the legal succession of the project in order to ensure the financing and technical structure of prometheus and to further develop the image archive, in addition to the intended overarching goals (promotion of digital media in the arts and cultural studies). | » About the statutes
To ensure the continuity of the project, the association “prometheus – Das verteilte digitale Bildarchiv für Forschung & Lehre e.V.” is founded during the project term. The workshop “Perspektiven” initiated by prometheus shows models of continuity and serves as a platform for the exchange of experiences. | » About the association history
The aims of the project are the consolidation of image databases, interdisciplinary networking and the use of the digital medium for research and teaching. During the project term, 20 databases and more than 150,000 images will be integrated. More than 60 institutions join as associated partners.| » About the project history
As a collaborative project of the University of Cologne, the Humboldt University of Berlin, the Justus Liebig University of Gießen and the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, prometheus will be launched on 1 April. The three-year project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BmB+F) with 1.8 million euros.| » About prometheus