Collecteurs is shaking up the art world by making private collections public and redefining how we experience and preserve art. Co-founded by Evrim and Jessica Oralkan, it’s the world’s first collective digital museum, blending a collection management system with a social-network model. Instead of keeping valuable artwork locked away, Collecteurs turns collectors into “creative social agents” and invites the public to engage with pieces that would otherwise stay hidden. It’s a fresh approach that challenges the exclusivity of traditional museums and shifts the focus from market value to cultural significance.

But Collecteurs isn’t just about archiving—it’s about pushing boundaries. In 2019, they launched “The Library of DangerousThoughts,” reviving the ColdWar-era technique of pressing underground music onto Soviet-style X-ray film. The project featured unreleased audio from artists like Massive Attack and Pussy Riot, taking a stand against censorship while turning music into a physical, playable artifact. More recently, in 2024, they introduced “Falastin: A Digital Monument,” an evolving online archive dedicated to Palestinian cultural memory. Created with artists and curators worldwide, it ensures that stories and histories often overlooked by institutions remain accessible to all.

At its core, Collecteurs is rethinking the ethics of collecting and sharing art. It played a key role in drafting the first “Code of Conduct for Contemporary Art Collectors,” pushing for transparency, artist rights, and prioritizing culture over profit.Their shift to a “slow social media” model and the launch of “5% Forward” aim to break away from exploitative funding, creating a more sustainable, community-driven art ecosystem. By questioning the role of museums, reimagining digital preservation, and finding new ways to fund artists, Collecteurs isn’t just changing the game—it’s rewriting the rules entirely.