Project Context:
The Getty Provenance Index (GPI), a major research resource of the Getty Research Institute, compiles millions of archival records documenting the ownership and transfer histories of artworks. In 2025 the radically reconfigured, linked open data version of GPI was honoured as Digital Innovation of the Year at the Apollo Awards 2025 for its transformative impact on provenance research and digital scholarship.
TAKIN’s Role:
Takin.solutions provided comprehensive support across the full data lifecycle for the Reindex enhancement of GPI, including:
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Semantic Data Modelling: Assisting in the refinement and structuring of the GPI semantic model to align with Linked.Art, CIDOC CRM, and interoperable heritage data patterns, enabling rich representation of people, objects, places, and provenance events.
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ETL Management & System Implementation: Managing and coordinating the extraction, transformation, and loading of legacy provenance data into the Arches linked open data platform and supporting Arches deployment.
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Quality Analysis: Conducting quality assessment of data transformations and model implementation to ensure integrity, consistency, and research utility of the linked data outputs.
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Documentation: Producing detailed documentation of the semantic model, data mappings, transformation processes, and implementation practices to support maintenance, reuse, and community engagement.
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Training: Delivering training for stakeholders on the semantic model, Arches system use, and data workflows to ensure effective adoption and sustainability of the new platform.
Outcome:
The project enabled the Provenance Index to transition from a legacy database to a modern linked open data research infrastructure, enhancing discoverability, interoperability, and analytical capability for provenance research. The award recognition underscores the cultural and scholarly impact of this transformation.