The SHIFT team is thrilled to announce its participation in a collaborative effort with four other Horizon Europe-funded projects—MEMENTOES, MUSEIT, MEMORISE, and PREMIERE. All projects have received funding under the Cluster 2 “Culture, Creativity & Inclusive Society” call under the Horizon Europe Destination theme, “Innovative Research on European Cultural Heritage and Cultural and Creative Industries – Building Our Future From the Past.” Together, we aim to revolutionize the cultural heritage sector by harnessing advanced digital technologies for preservation, accessibility, and engagement.
To align efforts and amplify impact, the cluster has released a policy brief titled: “Promoting Inclusive Innovation in Digital Technologies for Heritage Preservation.”
The policy brief reflects the collective knowledge and findings from the cluster projects, including SHIFT. It suggests strategic policy actions designed to:
- Bridge Expertise Gaps: Promote interdisciplinary education and foster digital literacy in the cultural heritage and creative industries.
- Build Capacity: Equip cultural institutions with the tools and skills to adopt and adapt to digital transformation.
- Promote Inclusion: Ensure digital engagement and accessibility for all, bridging the digital divide and fostering participation.
These recommendations aim to address current challenges in the sector, such as lagging digitization, insufficient technological integration, and disparities in access to cultural heritage resources.
Digital Transformation in Action
The projects collectively advocate for the extensive digitization of cultural heritage, including “born digital” heritage, ensuring its sustainable preservation and accessibility. The goal is not just to safeguard our cultural legacy but also to create dynamic, interactive experiences that engage diverse audiences.
The policy brief draws on the successes and lessons learned from each project’s research agenda, including SHIFT’s work in:
- Enhancing accessibility through cutting-edge technologies such as AI, VR, and haptics.
- Developing tools and methodologies for digital content transformation.
- Designing inclusive museum exhibits and user experiences.
It outlines several actionable recommendations for policymakers, including: Fostering Interdisciplinary Education, Supporting Digital Transformation in Cultural Institutions, Providing funding, training, and infrastructure to empower institutions to embrace new technologies, Developing Common Digital Infrastructures, Ensuring Accessibility and Inclusion and more. The SHIFT project is proud to contribute to this collective effort to drive digital innovation in the cultural heritage sector. By working together, these six projects are setting the stage for a future where cultural heritage is not only preserved but also accessible and engaging for all.
To download the policy brief click here.
