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Building Digital Capacity

The common European data space for cultural heritage is a new flagship initiative of the European Union to support the digital transformation of our sector. The Europeana Initiative - at the heart of the data space - offers capacity building activities which support the development of, and participation in, the common European data space for cultural heritage. Explore how we are doing this on this page.

Understanding the sector

A key part of building capacity across the data space is understanding the needs, diverse perspectives and varied goals of its beneficiaries and contributors. This builds upon previous research with our communities, a report with independent charity Culture24 and a dedicated Task Force.

Digital transformation in the time of COVID-19 - sense-making workshops findings and outcomes
Title:
A Vision for European Cultural Heritage 2025
Creator:
Sebastiaan ter Burg
Date:
May 2018, Bulgaria
Institution:
Europeana Foundation
Publication Created: 28 September 2020 Michael Peter Edson

Digital transformation in the time of COVID-19 - sense-making workshops findings and outcomes

Find out more about the workshops we ran with our community to bring their perspective, experience and expertise together to identify new paths through - and beyond - the COVID-19 crisis for digital cultural heritage. 

The digital transformation agenda and GLAMs - Culture24 findings and outcomes
Title:
Europeana Strategy meeting “Migration and culture: how can our past educate our present”,
Creator:
Sebastiaan ter Burg
Institution:
Europeana Foundation
Publication Created: 28 September 2020 Jane Finnis Anra Kennedy

The digital transformation agenda and GLAMs - Culture24 findings and outcomes

Through this report, explore what is happening in our sector to support digital capacity, consider what terms like ‘digital transformation’ mean in practice for GLAM institutions and get a snapshot of digital capacity building initiatives in the sector.

Defining digital transformation

Building on our sense-making workshops and Culture24 report, we have worked with our peers, partners and Europeana Network Association members to agree a common definition of digital transformation that is relevant to the cultural heritage sector and our stakeholders. We will use the definition to help shape our future strategies and priorities, so that a cultural heritage sector powered by digital can contribute to a Europe powered by culture. Read the full definition, and explore it through our video, below. 

Summary

Digital transformation is both the process and the result of using digital technology to transform how an organisation operates and delivers value. It helps an organisation to thrive, fulfil its mission and meet the needs of its stakeholders. It enables cultural heritage institutions to contribute to the transformation of a sector powered by digital and a Europe powered by culture.

Full definition

Digital transformation is both the process and the result of using digital technology to transform how an organisation works. It helps an organisation to thrive, fulfil its mission and meet the needs of its stakeholders. 

Digital transformation can be driven by heritage professionals of any level - everyone can be an agent of change. It is not just about technology - it’s about mindsets and personal capabilities. 

The impact of digital transformation will be different for each individual organisation. Each change, no matter how small, contributes to a cultural heritage sector powered by digital and a Europe powered by culture. 

Europeana and digital transformation

Europeana’s focus is on digital transformation relating to the digital discovery of cultural heritage collections. This includes (but is not limited to) efforts that help cultural heritage institutions to develop their leadership and capacity for digital transformation, to strengthen infrastructure, improve interoperability, enrich data, share collections and engage with audiences. 

Europeana empowers the cultural heritage sector in its digital transformation - helping it to embrace digital change and encouraging partnerships that foster innovation. We lead with our specialist expertise when best-placed to do so and collaborate when that expertise lies in other networks.

Developing a framework

We are working to create a strategy and implement a framework that empowers, motivates and guides the development of capacity building through the cultural heritage sector. Find out more through the document below, which describes the strategy for building and implementing the Europeana Capacity Building Framework. It reflects work in progress and future plans, and describes the guiding principles that have been developed for the Framework.

Strengthening and supporting the process of identifying and developing capacity building efforts is our Thematic Agenda. This attempts to provide an overview of the planned work within the (greater) Europeana Initiative, according to themes and topics, in order to be able to establish a joint horizon and to identify synergies and complimentary work. Find out more through the document below.

The partners of the Europeana Initiative have explored and developed methods to enhance cooperation between the Europeana Foundation, Europeana Aggregators' Forum and Europeana Network Association as part of a shared ambition to facilitate the stewardship of the common Europeana data space for cultural heritage. In doing so, an enhanced model of cooperation has emerged that identifies and implements i) methods that improve cooperation on strategic matters, ii) mechanisms that facilitate working for mutual benefit and iii) practical actions that improve communication, transparency and accountability. Find out more through the document below.

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