National Museum of Wildlife Art Selected for Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Digital Accelerator for Arts and Culture Program
October 23, 2025The National Museum of Wildlife Art has been selected to join the Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator for Arts and Culture Program, which will support a major initiative to digitize, catalog, and share more of the Museum’s collection with audiences worldwide.
Through this program, the Museum will enhance its digitization and cataloging systems—tackling the backlog of artworks awaiting photography and developing a sustainable plan for future digital growth. These advancements will make the collection more accessible, searchable, and engaging for diverse audiences, aligning directly with the Museum’s strategic goal to expand digital access.
“We are deeply honored to be selected for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator for Arts and Culture Program, which recognizes the importance of preserving and sharing our collection with the widest possible audience,” said Ponteir Sackrey, Chief Advancement Officer. “This investment supports our vision to make the Museum’s resources available to researchers, educators, and the public for generations to come. We’re grateful for Bloomberg Philanthropies’ leadership in advancing innovation and accessibility in the arts.”
Between November 2025 and May 2026, the Museum will photograph more than 700 artworks from its permanent collection. These efforts will raise the percentage of works available online from 47% (as of August 2025) to 73% by March 2027—a 55% increase in digital access. The number of publicly available collection records will grow from 2,706 to 4,066, adding roughly 1,360 newly digitized works to the Museum’s website.
“Our team has worked diligently to digitize the collection piece by piece, but this program allows us to accelerate that work in transformative ways,” said Kennis Forte, PhD, Curator of Art. “Through the Bloomberg Digital Accelerator, we’ll gain new tools, training, and expertise that will make a lasting impact—well beyond the duration of this project.”
These improvements will also advance the Museum’s broader goals of enhancing access, engagement, and education. Strengthening the Museum’s digital infrastructure will allow scholars, students, and educators to conduct remote research; expand opportunities for online engagement; and enable visitors to explore artworks beyond the gallery experience.
“The National Museum of Wildlife Art is deeply committed to connecting people with wildlife and nature through art,” said Steve Seamons, Executive Director. “By embracing digital innovation, we can share these stories and artworks with audiences far beyond Jackson Hole—inviting global engagement with our exceptional collection. This opportunity with Bloomberg Philanthropies represents a transformative step toward that vision.”
Developed with the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Digital Accelerator for Arts and Culture, this initiative reflects the program’s mission to strengthen nonprofit cultural organizations through digital innovation. The Digital Accelerator supports leadership development and infrastructure investment that builds audiences, increases fundraising, drives revenue, delivers dynamic programming, and enhances institutional efficiency. The program also fosters collaboration and the exchange of best practices across a network of cultural organizations worldwide.
