Broadcasting: Images / Media

The Creative Commons search tools CC Search and Let's CC do not cover all image resources. See below for specialised, publicly available sources with more refined search options or try the suggested Ara library databases listed in the box at right.

Jump to: Art Galleries & Museums, Photographs, Clip Art, Other Public Domain Image Sources.

Art Galleries & Museums
Most images from the galleries below can be used for educational purposes but check the "terms of use" for each gallery and also check for restrictions on individual images.

• British Library. Images scanned from books of 17th - 19th centuries. These images have been uploaded to Flickr Commons and are free to use and modify. Terms of use.
• Finnish Wartime Photographic Archive (1939-1945). Images held by the Finnish Defense Force. Searches can only be conducted in Finnish. Images are downloadable for any purpose. Give credit to “SA-kuva” as the source.
• French Revolution Digital Archive. Images from the Biblioteque Nationale de France relating to the French Revolution. All images can be used for educational purposes. Terms of use.
• Getty. Getty Museum collections of international art and architecture with a focus on antiquities, European art and American photograhs. No restriction on the use or modification of open content images. Terms of use.
• Joseph A. Labadie Collection (University of Michigan Library). Social protest posters. Can be used for educational purposes but give credit to "Joseph A. Labadie Collection, University of Michigan". Terms of use.
• LA County Museum. Largest art museum in western USA. Covers global art from antiquity to present. Much of collection is available for use without restriction - check individual images. Terms of use.
• Library of Congress. Photographs originally held by US Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information. Strong collection on the Great Depression. Most images are public domain but check each one. Terms of use.
• Digital NZ. Pictures, sounds and objects from New Zealand’s archives, galleries, libraries and museums. Click "Open Filters" beside the search box, then filter results by Usage permissions: Share, Modify or Use Commercially. Terms of use.
• Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York). Look for the   icon below an image, then click the download icon. Manipulation of images is permitted if it enhances ideas in your publication (e.g. adding an arrow or adding missing sections of a fragmented artwork based on research).  FAQ.  Terms of use.
• MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) (New York). Images and other content may be used for educational purposes. Users must cite the author and source of this material, including the URL "http://www.moma.org". Terms of use.
• NASA. Historic image collection on Flickr Commons. Images free to use for any purpose. Terms of use.
• National Gallery (London). Images can be used for internal educational purposes but must not be altered. The source must be identified and the copyright status acknowledged, eg: “Leonardo, The Virgin of the Rocks, 1491-1508 Photo © The National Gallery, London”. Terms of use.
• National Gallery of Art (USA). Images can be used as wanted but provide credit to National Gallery of Art, Washington. Terms of use.
• NYPL Digital Collections (New York Public Library). Maps, prints, posters, photographs, etc. from the NYPL collections. Images can be used for educational purposes. Terms of use.
• Rijksmuseum (Netherlands). Images that are part of the Rijks Studio collection are public domain and can downloaded and modified. This is the largest Open Access collection of European art. Terms of use.
• Robert Rauschenburg Digital Collection. High resolution images of the work of 20th century American artist, Robert Rauschenburg. Artworks are held in the San Franciso Museum of Modern Art. Images may be used for educational purposes. Terms of use.
• Smithsonian Institution (USA). Images can be used for educational purposes but must retain the associated copyright or credit statements. Include the Smithsonion website in the reference http://www.si.edu/. Terms of use.
• Tate Modern. British art from 1500 to the present plus some international modern and contemporary art and archival material relating to the lives of British artists. Images are for non-commercial use only. Use the Refine option at left to narrow search results by artist, period, style, subject of the artwork, Creative Commons images, etc. Terms of use.
• Te Papa Tongarewa / Museum of New Zealand. Images plus information on artworks, objects and specimens from the museum's collections. Most can be used for educational purposes but check individual copyright statements. Terms of use.
• Turnbull Gallery, National Library of NZ. Images from the Turnbull Gallery, National Library of NZ. Check the usage rights for each image.
• Turnbull Gallery, National Library of NZ - Copyright-free images. These are just the freely downloadable images from the Turnbull Gallery collection above.
• Web Gallery of Art (Europe). European painting and sculpture, covering 11th - 19th centuries. Images downloadable for educational use. Terms of use (see Legal Questions).
• Wellcome Images (London). Centuries of biomedical related images available for any use and can be edited. Must give credit to Wellcome Library, London. Terms of use.
• Wikimedia Commons.  Paintings, drawings and older photography that are now out of copyright or under a Creative Commons licence. Includes works from major art galleries.
• World Images.  100,000 images from art, architecture and life throughout the world, from prehistory to the present, provided by California State University. Includes biographical info. Searchable. Tutors can request administrator privileges to set up their own portfolios. All images free for educational use, including altering images, but you must give credit to the copyright holders. Terms of use.

Photographs

• dreamstime.com. This commercial site has a section containing free images.
• freeimages.co.uk. There is no copyright on these images and they can be altered.
• everystockphoto Use the Advanced Search option to search by topic, licence, image resolution, shape, etc.
• freeimageslive.co.uk. Similar to the above site. Contains images that people have contributed for others to use. Check the terms of use.
• freeimages.com. Similar to the above sites but check individual images in case of restrictions.
• morgueFile. Photographs freely available for educational or creative use and can be altered. Credit the photographer where possible. Request permission to use for a private blog or for commercial use.
• Pixabay. Free photos, vectors and art illustrations. All are public domain and do not require you to give credit to the artist.

Clip Art

• WPClipart Very large, searchable database of public domain images on a variety of topics, including famous artworks. All are free to use and modify.
• Openclipart Especially good for icons, avatars, simple illustrations. Clipart requests invited.
• Public Domain Clip Art  Browse by category or search. Especially good for people, animals, plants, sports & recreation.
• DMOZ List of other sites containing public domain clipart.
• Google icons Icons (symbols) used in Google applications.  Open access files allow icons to be downloaded and altered.
• The Noun Project  Icons and images. Sign up to be eligible for free downloads (image credit will be included).
• Freepik Free, editable graphic designs suitable for posters, menus, cards, etc. Include  the attribution "Designed by Freepik".
• Brusheezy Free Photoshop textures, patterns and brushes.

Other Public Domain Image Sources

• Artsy.  Art & architecture images from the world's leading galleries. Images with a download icon may be downloaded and used for any purpose.  Terms of use.
• Bing Image Search. Results are filtered to retrieve Creative Commons images but you should follow the link to the source of each image to check the CC license provision.
• DPLA (Digital Public Library of America). Text and audio visual resources from USA libraries and museums. Especially useful for world and American history. Most material is free for educational use but check the supplier of each item for copyright restrictions. Further information  http://dp.la/info/help/faq/
• Flickr Commons. Images uploaded by museums, galleries and libraries which claim no known copyright restrictions on these images. The "Commons" search box is lower down on screen. Don't use the regular search box at top of screen. Rights statements.
• Google Advanced Image Search. Search for images by keyword, size, colour, URL domain, file type or usage rights. Under "Usage Rights", select "Labeled for noncommercial use". When you find a suitable image, click "Visit Page" to verify the copyright permissions.
• Internet Archive Book Images. Millions of photos and drawings from scanned books that were published 1500 to 1922. No copyright restrictions on most images. Copyright explanation.
• Wikimedia Commons: Images. When you find an image, go to "More details about this file" for notes and several download size options. Most images are free to use for educational purposes. Terms of use.
• Wikimedia Commons: Photographs. Useful for examples of photographic style or technique. Most images are free to use for educational purposes. Terms of use.
• Yahoo! Image search. As for Bing Image Search - check copyright permissions for each image.
• More Public Domain Image Sources (...from Wikipedia)