Research Guides: Art and Design Research Guide: Find Audio, Images, and Video

Where Can I Find Content I Can Use?

The sites and databases below contain audio, images, and video that are available freely available online. Keep in mind that these resources use a variety of different licenses, including Creative Commons licenses. Always double check if the content you want to use is available under a license that permits the use you have in mind!

If you want to learn more about copyright, Creative Commons licensing, and fair use, visit these pages from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Libraries:

Audio

Openverse
Searches images and audio available under a Creative Commons license or in the public domain.
Wikimedia Commons
A repository of freely available images, audio, and video. Content is available under a Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike license or is available in the public domain.
Europeana
Collection of European audio, images, text, and video, much of which is available to use freely.
ccMixter
Collection of audio available under a Creative Commons license.

Images

Openverse
Searches images and audio available under a Creative Commons license or in the public domain.
Wikimedia Commons
A repository of freely available images, audio, and video. Content is available under a Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike license or is available in the public domain.
Europeana
Collection of European audio, images, text, and video, much of which is available to use freely.
Images of Empowerment
A collection of empowering images of women available for noncommercial use with attribution under a Creative Commons license.
The Greats
A collection of artwork available for noncommercial use with attribution under a Creative Commons license.
Nappy
Stock photos of Black and Brown people, available for commercial use.
Minnesota Digital Library (formerly Minnesota Reflections)
A collection of more than 55,000 photographs, postcards, maps, documents, letters, and oral histories from across Minnesota. Each individual item has a copyright statement.

StoryBlocks This link opens in a new window
The University of Minnesota provides stock images, video clips, and audio clips through StoryBlock. Use these resources to improve a presentation or class project, enhance a video, add creative elements to marketing pieces, and more.

Access Note: You must be connected to the University of Minnesota Network to access. Off campus users should access via VPN.

Video

Wikimedia Commons
A repository of freely available images, audio, and video. Content is available under a Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike license or is available in the public domain.
Europeana
Collection of European audio, images, text, and video, much of which is available to use freely.

Kathryn A. Martin Library

Art and Design Research Guide

Where Can I Find Content I Can Use?

Audio

Images

Video