Digital Cultural Heritage

This chapter aims to give information about how the digitalization process is using technologies suitable for today's conditions in the transmission of cultural heritage to future generations and its preservation, what methods are being employed, the concept of digital heritage, the developments that took place and the projects that were carried out in the digitization of cultural heritage. In addition, it is also aimed in this chapter to evaluate the cultural heritage sites within the framework of this new understanding and to examine how these areas can be redefined with new technical possibilities. At this point, after reviewing the literature about the cultural and digital heritage, the importance of cultural heritage is referred to in detail. Finally, a case study is conducted by the authors via compiling the V-must.net website established to develop virtual museums, blog comments, and academic studies carried out in respect to this project.

The European Commission Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content & Technology has conducted extensive policy coordination and funding actions to supplement Member States' cultural policy. These actions cover the areas of digitisation, online access to cultural material and digital preservation.

The role of the European Commission
The European Commission fuels the policy debate and brings stakeholders together to improve the framework conditions for digitisation and digital preservation. It does so through its Recommendation on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation.
The European Commission's Expert Group on Digital Cultural Heritage and Europeana (DCHE) monitors progress towards the implementation of the Commission's Recommendation. The DCHE works with cultural institutions to enrich Europeana. It also facilitates the exchange of information and good practices.

Current funding instruments
Actions under Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges 6 programmes for 2014-2020 have supported the following topics with an EU funding of around €70 million: curation of digital assests and advanced digitisation (2018) European cultural heritage, access and analysis for a richer interpretation of the past (2017) cost-effective technologies for advanced 3D modelling to enhance the understanding of cultural heritage and Innovation Ecosystems of Digital Cultural Assets, Virtual Museums (.pdf) (2014)(2015)(2016) Latest DIGIBYTE | 10 November 2021 Commission proposes a common European data space for cultural heritage The European Commission has published a recommendation on a common European data space for cultural heritage. The aim is to accelerate the digitisation of cultural heritage assets.
PRESS RELEASE | 04 January 2021 Commission sets up a Centre for digital preservation of cultural heritage and launches projects supporting digital innovation in schools The Commission launched this week a European competence centre aiming to preserve and conserve European Cultural Heritage. The centre, which will work for a period of three years, has been granted up to €3 million from the Horizon 2020 programme. It will set up a collaborative digital space for cultural heritage conservation and give access to repositories of data, metadata, standards and guidelines.

PRESS RELEASE | 03 December 2020 Digital Decade: Commission launches Action Plan to support recovery and transformation of the media and audiovisual sectors
The Commission has adopted an Action Plan to support the recovery and transformation of the media and audiovisual sector. These sectors, particularly hit by the coronavirus crisis, are essential for democracy, Europe's cultural diversity and digital autonomy.

DIGIBYTE | 15 October 2020 A Season of Classic Films: bringing European classics closer to people
After the success in 2019 with more than 15.000 people participating, 'A Season of Classic Films' is back in 2020 for its second edition.

Media and digital culture
The Commission is defending European media and digital culture with policies that empower citizens and encourage media pluralism.

Dig deeper
Access to finance for the cultural and creative sectors The Cultural and Creative Sectors Guarantee Facility helps businesses in the cultural and creative sectors to scale up and become more competitive.

The Europeana platform
The Europeana platform is Europe's digital cultural collection for responsible, accessible, sustainable and innovative tourism.

Expert Group on Digital Cultural Heritage and Europeana (DCHE)
The Digital Cultural Heritage and Europeana Expert Group is a forum for cooperation in digitisation, and online cultural material and preservation.

Audiovisual and Media Services
These days we can watch our favourite programmes not just on TV, but also online. These shows are subject to the rules of the single market.

Supporting media and digital culture
The Commission is promoting a coherent approach on media policies, covering legislation on media services and the preservation of European cultural heritage.

Copyright
The European Commission is adapting EU copyright rules to new consumer behaviours in a Europe which values its cultural diversity.

Media freedom and pluralism
The European Union upholds media freedom and pluralism as pillars of modern democracy and enablers of free and open debate.