Photo by Aliis Sinisalu on Unsplash
Facing Title II compliance? Here’s how arts nonprofits can meet WCAG standards without starting from scratch.
As accessibility requirements expand across the public sector, many nonprofits, especially those working with public collections or government partners, are asking a pressing question: Are we Title II compliant?
What’s changed: why Title II compliance matters now
Accessibility under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has long been required for state and local governments. But in 2024, expectations became significantly clearer and more urgent.
In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a final rule that:
- Requires websites and mobile apps to be accessible
- Establishes WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the standard (WCAG is web content accessibility guidelines)
- Applies to all digital services provided by state and local governments
WCAG 2.1 AA is no longer guidance. It is now the required standard with specific deadlines.
What are the deadlines?
- April 26, 2027: Larger public entities (population 50,000+)
- April 26, 2028: Smaller public entities and special districts
Note: These deadlines were extended by one year in April 2026 by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Do Arts Nonprofits Need to Follow WCAG Guidelines?
Even if your arts nonprofit or cultural organization isn’t a government entity, WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) may still be an important standard for your website and digital content.
Arts nonprofits should pay particular attention to digital accessibility if they:
- Partner with municipalities or other government agencies
- Receive public or government funding
- Provide programs, resources, or digital content to the public
Depending on your organization, funding sources, partnerships, and applicable laws, specific accessibility requirements can vary. But even when WCAG compliance is not explicitly required, following WCAG accessibility standards can help arts organizations make websites, online collections, event information, and other digital resources more accessible to people with disabilities.
For arts and cultural organizations, digital accessibility is increasingly becoming part of providing equitable public access to collections, programs, and services.
What ADA Title II Compliance Means for Online Art Collections
For public entities and arts organizations subject to ADA Title II, digital accessibility means making websites, online collections, and other digital content accessible to people with disabilities.
For organizations managing art collections, that can include:
- Accessible online collection records that visitors can navigate and understand
- Descriptive alt text for artwork images and other meaningful visual content
- Structured, screen reader-friendly content with clear headings and labels
- Consistent collection data and navigation that make information easier to find
- Public-facing websites and digital platforms that meet applicable WCAG accessibility standards
For organizations covered by ADA Title II, accessibility extends beyond the physical spaces where art is displayed. Online art collections and digital resources are part of the public experience, making digital accessibility an important part of providing equitable access to collections, programs, and information.
Where to Start With ADA Title II Compliance
Improving digital accessibility doesn’t necessarily mean rebuilding your entire website or collection system from scratch. A more manageable approach is to start with the systems and information that shape how people access your collection, then improve accessibility over time.
1. Start With Accessible Artwork Metadata
For online art collections, accessibility starts with the information behind each artwork record. Clear, consistent artwork metadata helps visitors understand and navigate your collection, including people using screen readers and other assistive technologies.
Each artwork record should include:
- Artwork title and artist information
- Descriptive alt text that communicates relevant visual information about the artwork
- A brief contextual description that helps visitors understand the work and its significance
Thoughtful artwork descriptions can make online collections more useful and engaging while supporting broader digital accessibility efforts.
Using a centralized art collection management system like Artwork Archive can also make it easier to maintain consistent metadata across your collection. Instead of adding accessibility information retroactively, organizations can build clear descriptions and standardized collection data into their documentation workflow from the start.
Accessibility vs. Equity in Online Art Collections
Accessibility is about access: it helps user reach your content.
Equity is about understanding: it helps users fully experience it.
Alt text ensures users can access your content.
Context ensures they can understand it. Adding a sentence about the meaning, history, or intent behind a work creates a richer, more inclusive experience, especially for screen reader users and audiences new to visual art.
See how the Fulton County Public Art Program, an Artwork Archive client, incorporates context into their public-facing description field.
2. Make Your Online Art Collection Accessible
Your website, online collection pages, and digital exhibitions should be designed so that people with disabilities can navigate and engage with your content.
Following WCAG digital accessibility best practices means paying attention to features such as:
- Keyboard navigation so visitors can access content without relying on a mouse
- Screen reader compatibility for people who are blind or have low vision
- Clear heading structures and page organization that make content easier to navigate
- Readable color contrast between text, backgrounds, and other interface elements
For arts organizations, these considerations are an important part of making online collections and digital art experiences accessible to a wider audience.
Artwork Archive’s public-facing collection tools are designed with accessible structure in mind, making it easier to present collections in an accessible way without custom development.
3. Build Digital Accessibility Into Your Everyday Workflows
Digital accessibility isn’t a one-time project or a checklist you complete once. As your art collection grows and new content is added, accessibility needs to be part of your organization’s ongoing collection management process.
Create repeatable accessibility workflows by:
- Standardizing how your organization writes alt text and artwork descriptions
- Training staff and volunteers on digital accessibility best practices
- Using templates and guidelines to keep collection records consistent
- Building accessibility into everyday documentation and collection management workflows
This is where many arts organizations face challenges. Without consistent processes, accessibility can quickly become something teams have to address retroactively. Building it into the way your organization already documents and manages its collection makes it easier to maintain accessible, consistent public information over time.
4. Prepare for Growing Digital Accessibility Expectations
As digital accessibility standards become more clearly defined, arts and cultural organizations should be prepared for accessibility to play a larger role in how digital collections, programs, and public resources are evaluated.
Organizations may encounter:
- Accessibility requirements in grants, contracts, and public partnerships
- Higher expectations for accessible websites and online collections
- Greater accountability for how digital content serves people with disabilities
- More attention to WCAG and ADA Title II accessibility standards
Taking a proactive approach to digital accessibility can help your organization prepare for evolving requirements, reduce the need for costly retroactive fixes, and create a more inclusive experience for the communities you serve.
5. Think Beyond Digital Accessibility Compliance
Digital accessibility isn’t only about meeting ADA or WCAG requirements. It’s also about expanding who can discover, navigate, understand, and engage with your art collection.
A more accessible online collection is:
- More discoverable, helping a wider audience find and explore your collection
- More usable, with clear structure and information that makes navigating your collection easier
- More inclusive, removing barriers that can prevent people with disabilities from accessing your artwork and collection information
When accessibility is built into your digital collection from the beginning, it becomes more than a compliance measure. It becomes part of how your organization fulfills its mission and makes art and cultural resources available to the communities it serves.
Make ADA Title II Compliance Easier With the Right Collection Management System
ADA Title II compliance and digital accessibility can feel overwhelming, especially when your collection data is spread across spreadsheets, legacy databases, or inconsistent records.
But improving accessibility doesn’t always require rebuilding your collection management process from the ground up. The right art collection management system can help you create consistent artwork records, standardize metadata and descriptions, and build accessibility into the way your organization already documents and shares its collection.
Instead of treating digital accessibility as a separate project, organizations can make it part of their everyday collection management workflow, making accessible information easier to maintain as the collection grows.
How Artwork Archive Supports Accessibility & Compliance for Art Collections
Artwork Archive helps arts and cultural organizations build digital accessibility into their collection management workflows by keeping artwork information structured, consistent, and easier to manage in one centralized system.
With Artwork Archive, organizations can:
- Maintain consistent, structured collection data across artwork records
- Add alt text and contextual artwork descriptions to support more accessible online experiences
- Share collections through accessible, organized public tools
- Avoid the inefficiencies of disconnected systems
By making accessible documentation part of everyday art collection management, organizations can more easily maintain accurate, useful collection information as their collections grow and their digital accessibility needs evolve.
How Artwork Archive Builds Accessibility Into Its Platform
Artwork Archive is committed to making its art collection management platform accessible to people with disabilities and those who use assistive technologies. Web accessibility is considered throughout the design and development process to create a more usable experience for organizations and the audiences they serve.
We incorporate accessibility best practices throughout development, including:
- Structured content and data fields that support screen reader navigation
- Keyboard-accessible interfaces for users who navigate without a mouse
- Clear page hierarchy and heading structures that make content easier to understand and navigate
- Text alternatives for meaningful images
- Readable color contrast and flexible text sizing to support a range of visual needs
Accessibility is an ongoing process. Artwork Archive continues to evaluate and improve the platform through accessibility reviews, testing with assistive technologies, and inclusive design practices incorporated throughout product development.
You can learn more on our Accessibility page.
Build ADA Title II Accessibility Into Your Collection Management Workflow
ADA Title II compliance doesn’t have to mean overhauling your systems overnight. A more sustainable approach is to make digital accessibility part of the way your organization documents, manages, and shares its art collection every day.
With consistent collection data, accessible artwork descriptions, and repeatable workflows in place, meeting evolving accessibility requirements becomes more manageable over time.
Artwork Archive gives arts and cultural organizations a centralized system for managing collection information and building accessibility into their everyday workflows, helping teams create more organized, accessible experiences for the communities they serve.
