# 3D Cultural Relics Sketchfab's Public Domain Program Helps Museums Share 3D Object Scans By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2020-03-12 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultural-relics References: [roadtovr](https://www.roadtovr.com/sketchfab-public-domain-3d-assets/) & [sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/blogs/community/sketchfab-launches-public-domain-dedication-for-3d-cultural-heritage/) Sketchfab is helping museums and organizations freely share 3D scans of meaningful cultural relics thanks to a new public domain program. Sketchfab is now giving cultural organizations the ability to dedicate [3D scans and models](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spatial-3d-scanners) to the Public Domain, which makes it possible for users to copy, modify and distribute the models for a variety of purposes—including even commercial uses or viewing them with [virtual reality headsets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/teleport-by-varjo). For this program, Sketchfab partnered with 27 organizations across 13 countries, including the [Smithsonian](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/studio-for-architecture), the National Gallery of Denmark, Chile’s Museo Nacional de Historia Natural. Now, there are digital objects like the Apollo 11 command module, dinosaur skulls, vases and other artifacts that can be appreciated in new ways. Image Credit: Sketchfab ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.8/10 - Popularity: 72% | Activity: 34% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Modern](https://www.trendhunter.com/modern) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Public Domain 3D Scans:** The trend of museums and cultural organizations freely sharing 3D scans of cultural relics opens up opportunities for disruptive innovation in virtual reality experiences, educational apps, and digital preservation. - **Open Source Cultural Relics:** The trend of dedicating 3D scans and models of cultural relics to the Public Domain allows for disruptive innovation in 3D printing, augmented reality applications, and interactive museum exhibits. - **Collaborative Cultural Preservation:** The trend of partnerships between Sketchfab and cultural organizations for sharing 3D scans of artifacts promotes disruptive innovation in collaborative research, digital archiving, and immersive storytelling. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Museums and Cultural Institutions:** The museums and cultural institutions industry can apply disruptive innovation by leveraging 3D scanning technology to enhance visitor experiences, offer virtual tours, and democratize access to cultural artifacts. - **Virtual Reality:** The virtual reality industry can seize disruptive innovation opportunities by providing immersive experiences using 3D scans of cultural relics, creating virtual museums, and enabling remote access to historical sites. - **3D Printing:** The 3D printing industry can explore disruptive innovation by utilizing 3D scans of cultural relics to create replicas and enable on-demand production, catering to the demand for unique and personalized artifacts. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Stock 3D Visuals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unsplash.md) - [Mobile 3D Scanning Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/realityscan.md) - [Decentralized Museums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/arkive-museum.md) - [Digital Museum Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/louvre.md) - [Metaverse Art Galleries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/galeryst.md) - [3D Art Communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sparlit.md) - [Virtual Pub Museums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heineken-pub-museums.md) - [Ultra-Detailed Museum Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/night-watch.md) - [3D Art Presentation Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-art-presentation.md)