Top 15 Museum Vendors

The Leading Museum Vendors of 2023

In the dynamic world of museums, choosing the right vendor is crucial. Explore our list of the “Top 15 Museum Vendors of 2023” for industry-leading solutions and services.

1. Gallery Systems

• Founders: Jon Winet
• Founded Year: 1981
• Headquarters: New York, USA
• Awards Received: Notable mention – 2020 Museums + Heritage Award for Innovation
• Product Categories: Collections Management Software, Digital Asset Management
• Description: Gallery Systems provides museum management software and services to help institutions efficiently catalog, manage, and publish their collections.
• Key Features:
  • Comprehensive collections management tools
  • Customizable reporting and analytics
  • Integration with digital asset management

2. PastPerfect

• Founders: N/A
• Founded Year: 1997
• Headquarters: Boston, USA
• Awards Received: Museum + Heritage Award for Innovation
• Product Categories: Collections Management, Membership & Donor Tracking
• Description: PastPerfect offers collections management software designed to help museums and historical societies catalog and manage their artifacts and archives.
• Key Features:
  • Robust cataloging capabilities
  • Integrated online collections access
  • Donor and membership management

3. Blackbaud

• Founders: Anthony Bakker, Tony Bakker
• Founded Year: 1981
• Headquarters: Charleston, USA
• Awards Received: Multiple industry awards for technology and innovation
• Product Categories: Fundraising, CRM, Ticketing, Membership
• Description: Blackbaud is a leading provider of software and services specifically designed for nonprofit organizations, including museums and cultural institutions.
• Key Features:
  • Fundraising and donor management
  • Membership and ticketing solutions
  • Constituent relationship management

4. Lucidea (Argus)

• Founders: Ron Aspe, Peter Tam
• Founded Year: 1977
• Headquarters: Richmond, Canada
• Awards Received: Notable mention – 2020 Museums + Heritage Award for Innovation
• Product Categories: Collections Management Software, Museum CMS
• Description: Lucidea’s Argus Collections Management System is a comprehensive solution for museums and cultural heritage organizations.
• Key Features:
  • Advanced cataloging and object tracking
  • Integrated multimedia and digital assets
  • Collections mobility solutions

5. Axiell

• Founders: Joakim Lynderup, Kent Muhlfeld
• Founded Year: 1988
• Headquarters: Lund, Sweden
• Awards Received: Museum + Heritage Award for Innovation
• Product Categories: Collections Management Software, Digital Asset Management
• Description: Axiell provides museum and archive management software and services to institutions worldwide.
• Key Features:
  • User-friendly cataloging and access tools
  • Web-based collections management
  • Integration with digital asset management

6. Eloquent Systems

• Founders: Dennis Bunfield
• Founded Year: 1975
• Headquarters: Burnaby, Canada
• Awards Received: Notable mention – 2020 Museums + Heritage Award for Innovation
• Product Categories: Collections Management Software, Digital Asset Management
• Description: Eloquent Systems offers collections management and digital asset management software to help museums organize and share their collections.
• Key Features:
  • Intuitive cataloging and searching
  • Multi-language support
  • Flexible hosting options

7. Tessitura Network

• Founders: Andrew Recinos, Alex Heimberg
• Founded Year: 2001
• Headquarters: Dallas, USA
• Awards Received: Multiple industry awards for innovation and impact
• Product Categories: CRM, Ticketing, Fundraising
• Description: Tessitura is a comprehensive customer relationship management (CRM) and ticketing platform for arts and cultural organizations, including museums.
• Key Features:
  • Unified CRM and ticketing
  • Fundraising and membership management
  • Data-driven analytics

8. Museum Anywhere

• Founders: Gajendra Rathore
• Founded Year: 2013
• Headquarters: New Jersey, USA
• Awards Received: Museum Computer Network 2020 Innovation Award
• Product Categories: Mobile App Solutions, Visitor Engagement
• Description: Museum Anywhere specializes in mobile app solutions designed to enhance visitor engagement and museum experiences.
• Key Features:
  • Customizable museum apps
  • Interactive exhibit content
  • Beacon technology integration

9. Adlib Information Systems

• Founders: N/A
• Founded Year: 1989
• Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands
• Awards Received: Notable mention – 2020 Museums + Heritage Award for Innovation
• Product Categories: Collections Management Software, Digital Asset Management
• Description: Adlib offers museum and archive management software for cataloging, managing, and sharing collections.
• Key Features:
  • Powerful cataloging and search capabilities
  • Integration with digital asset management
  • Scalable and customizable solutions

10. Vernon Systems

• Founders: N/A
• Founded Year: 1985
• Headquarters: Auckland, New Zealand
• Awards Received: Notable mention – 2020 Museums + Heritage Award for Innovation
• Product Categories: Collections Management Software, Digital Asset Management
• Description: Vernon Systems provides software and support for museum and gallery collections management.
• Key Features:
  • Comprehensive cataloging and collections management tools
  • Integrated digital asset management
  • Scalable and customizable solutions

11. MuseumNext

• Founders: Jim Richardson
• Founded Year: 2010
• Headquarters: United Kingdom
• Awards Received: Notable mention – 2020 Museums + Heritage Award for Innovation
• Product Categories: Conference and Events
• Description: MuseumNext is a global conference and events company that brings together museum professionals to discuss innovation and the future of museums.
• Key Features:
  • International conference events
  • Networking and knowledge sharing opportunities
  • Focus on innovation in the museum sector

12. Quatrefoil Associates

• Founders: N/A
• Founded Year: 1982
• Headquarters: Maryland, USA
• Awards Received: Various design awards for museum exhibitions
• Product Categories: Exhibition Design, Interpretive Planning
• Description: Quatrefoil Associates is a design and planning firm specializing in creating immersive and engaging museum exhibits.
• Key Features:
  • Award-winning exhibition design
  • Visitor-centered interpretive planning
  • Innovative storytelling and engagement strategies

13. Ideum

• Founders: Jim Spadaccini
• Founded Year: 1999
• Headquarters: New Mexico, USA
• Awards Received: Multiple awards for interactive exhibits and technology
• Product Categories: Interactive Displays, Multitouch Tables, Touchless Technologies
• Description: Ideum designs and produces interactive exhibits and multitouch tables for museums and cultural institutions.
• Key Features:
  • Multitouch and touchless technology
  • Customizable interactive displays
  • High-quality, durable hardware

14. Electrosonic

• Founders: N/A
• Founded Year: 1964
• Headquarters: Burbank, USA
• Awards Received: Various industry awards for AV and technology integration
• Product Categories: Audiovisual Systems, Technology Integration
• Description: Electrosonic specializes in audiovisual and technology solutions for museums and visitor centers.
• Key Features:
  • Customized AV and technology installations
  • Immersive experiences and storytelling
  • Integration with museum exhibits and displays

15. Gallagher & Associates

• Founders: Timothy Gallagher
• Founded Year: 1995
• Headquarters: Washington D.C., USA
• Awards Received: Numerous design and exhibition awards
• Product Categories: Exhibition Design, Storytelling
• Description: Gallagher & Associates is a design firm focused on creating engaging and informative museum exhibits and visitor experiences.
• Key Features:
  • Creative exhibition design and storytelling
  • Interactive and immersive experiences
  • Visitor-centered approach to exhibit planning