the asala collection (spanning 130 years, 355 albums/items, and more than 30.000 images) is a perfect example

the collection has been exhibited and promoted, & it is clearly an important historical archive. but who gets meaningful access?

a single rare photo album like those in collections such as this can cost thousands, putting them mainly within reach of wealthy collectors, universities, or museums.

these images are records of human history. when our shared visual heritage is locked behind ownership, price, and restricted access, most people lose the chance to see and learn from it.

they should be preserved, digitised & made accessible.

Maya Plisetskaya as Odette-Odile in Swan Lake 🩰.