Periodic Reporting for period 3 - ReInHerit (Redefining the future of cultural heritage, through a disruptive model of sustainability)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-03-01 do 2024-02-29
• What is the problem/issue being addressed?
As new forms of epistemology and knowledge exchange emerge in contemporary society, the heritage sector is undergoing significant structural transformations. European and international treaties have placed emphasis on community work and public engagement, encouraging diverse modes of working in the cultural policy sector. This democratized approach to heritage requires a paradigm shift away from top-down methodologies and towards collaborative modes of work that make cultural heritage (CH) relevant to society. This entails the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders engaging in continuous dialogue concerning the value of heritage in society.
Simultaneously, the expansion of the concept of heritage has led to the inclusion of different kinds of professional expertise, including technological and managerial skills. This has increased the demand for the professionalization of the field. Through its research, the ReInHerit project has identified a core issue in heritage management today: the sustainable digital transformation has not been fully implemented for all museums and heritage sites, hindering their abilities to adapt to new audiences, forms of communication, organizational structures, and technologies.
• Why is it important for society?
European and international treaties underscore the vital role of the cultural heritage sector in cultural sustainability, now recognized as the 4th pillar of sustainable development. This alignment helps cultural heritage organizations assert their relevance and impact globally. Amidst rapid societal changes, cultural heritage is reimagined as a resource fostering inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable societies. ReInHerit proposes a cultural heritage digital ecosystem aligned with the European Commission’s key priorities and UNESCO 2030 Culture Indicators, unlocking European heritage's potential for cultural sustainability. Achieving sustainable digital transformation enhances economic and environmental efficiency while promoting new, inclusive ways to meet human needs and well-being.
• What are the overall objectives?
ReInHerit aimed to establish a sustainable heritage management model, fostering a digital network of European heritage stakeholders. The digital ecosystem centered around a Digital Hub, facilitating communication, innovation, and dissemination of European cultural heritage among cultural professionals, policymakers, and communities. Key activities enabled real-time collaboration among museums and heritage sites.
As new forms of epistemology and knowledge exchange emerge in contemporary society, the heritage sector is undergoing significant structural transformations. European and international treaties have placed emphasis on community work and public engagement, encouraging diverse modes of working in the cultural policy sector. This democratized approach to heritage requires a paradigm shift away from top-down methodologies and towards collaborative modes of work that make cultural heritage (CH) relevant to society. This entails the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders engaging in continuous dialogue concerning the value of heritage in society.
Simultaneously, the expansion of the concept of heritage has led to the inclusion of different kinds of professional expertise, including technological and managerial skills. This has increased the demand for the professionalization of the field. Through its research, the ReInHerit project has identified a core issue in heritage management today: the sustainable digital transformation has not been fully implemented for all museums and heritage sites, hindering their abilities to adapt to new audiences, forms of communication, organizational structures, and technologies.
• Why is it important for society?
European and international treaties underscore the vital role of the cultural heritage sector in cultural sustainability, now recognized as the 4th pillar of sustainable development. This alignment helps cultural heritage organizations assert their relevance and impact globally. Amidst rapid societal changes, cultural heritage is reimagined as a resource fostering inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable societies. ReInHerit proposes a cultural heritage digital ecosystem aligned with the European Commission’s key priorities and UNESCO 2030 Culture Indicators, unlocking European heritage's potential for cultural sustainability. Achieving sustainable digital transformation enhances economic and environmental efficiency while promoting new, inclusive ways to meet human needs and well-being.
• What are the overall objectives?
ReInHerit aimed to establish a sustainable heritage management model, fostering a digital network of European heritage stakeholders. The digital ecosystem centered around a Digital Hub, facilitating communication, innovation, and dissemination of European cultural heritage among cultural professionals, policymakers, and communities. Key activities enabled real-time collaboration among museums and heritage sites.
The ReInherit consortium, comprising experts from diverse backgrounds across Europe, has actively worked towards its objectives since March 1, 2021. Over the three-year project cycle, ReInHerit aimed to create a sustainable heritage management model through a dynamic European network facilitated by the ReInHerit Digital Hub.
During Reporting Period 3, the consortium achieved all milestones and delivered all Year 3 commitments as per the Grant Agreement. Effective collaboration among partners, characterized by openness and dialogue, was crucial for developing the digital cultural heritage ecosystem. ReInHerit's emphasis on collaboration in digital innovation serves as a successful experiment, laying the foundation for sustainable cultural heritage management.
During the three-year period, the project progressed through distinct phases. Phase I, focused on research, was successfully completed with the submission of related deliverables and the establishment of requirements guiding subsequent phases. In Phase II, the design and development phase, key components such as the ReInHerit Toolkit, Digital Hub, and Digital/Travelling Exhibitions were crafted based on Phase I's requirements. Strategies were formulated accordingly.
The project transitioned to Phase III, the Pilot of Digital Solutions, where the Digital/Travelling Exhibitions served as sustainable "use cases," emphasizing digital interactivity. This phase embraced a bottom-up approach, engaging users and stakeholders through access to the Toolkit via the Digital Hub and workshops/hackathons in collaboration with WP7.
Phase III also saw the completion of toolkit app implementation and testing, a significant milestone. Concurrently, efforts focused on dissemination, communication, and strategic exploitation of results. The completion of the Handbook and Best Practices facilitated broad dissemination, reaching stakeholders across academia and industry. This phase highlights the commitment to maximizing the ReInherit Project's benefits across various sectors.
During Reporting Period 3, the consortium achieved all milestones and delivered all Year 3 commitments as per the Grant Agreement. Effective collaboration among partners, characterized by openness and dialogue, was crucial for developing the digital cultural heritage ecosystem. ReInHerit's emphasis on collaboration in digital innovation serves as a successful experiment, laying the foundation for sustainable cultural heritage management.
During the three-year period, the project progressed through distinct phases. Phase I, focused on research, was successfully completed with the submission of related deliverables and the establishment of requirements guiding subsequent phases. In Phase II, the design and development phase, key components such as the ReInHerit Toolkit, Digital Hub, and Digital/Travelling Exhibitions were crafted based on Phase I's requirements. Strategies were formulated accordingly.
The project transitioned to Phase III, the Pilot of Digital Solutions, where the Digital/Travelling Exhibitions served as sustainable "use cases," emphasizing digital interactivity. This phase embraced a bottom-up approach, engaging users and stakeholders through access to the Toolkit via the Digital Hub and workshops/hackathons in collaboration with WP7.
Phase III also saw the completion of toolkit app implementation and testing, a significant milestone. Concurrently, efforts focused on dissemination, communication, and strategic exploitation of results. The completion of the Handbook and Best Practices facilitated broad dissemination, reaching stakeholders across academia and industry. This phase highlights the commitment to maximizing the ReInherit Project's benefits across various sectors.
The ReInHerit project has made significant contributions within the dynamic research framework outlined by the 'Culture beyond borders' call under the Work Programme Europe in a changing world – inclusive, innovative, and reflective Societies. Its implementation has introduced novel knowledge and training models for sustainable digital transformation in the heritage sector.
The project's vision of proposing a sustainable cultural heritage management model with digital cultural partnerships at its core has been realized successfully. Additionally, ReInHerit aimed to spotlight Europe's social and cultural strengths while emphasizing the social, cultural, and economic benefits of the fourth industrial revolution.
The ReInHerit Digital Hub is now operational, serving as a catalyst for empowering cultural heritage professionals. It provides resources to foster synergies, develop strategies, and implement tools for sustainable digital transformation, thereby facilitating social, cultural, and technological innovation.
The project's vision of proposing a sustainable cultural heritage management model with digital cultural partnerships at its core has been realized successfully. Additionally, ReInHerit aimed to spotlight Europe's social and cultural strengths while emphasizing the social, cultural, and economic benefits of the fourth industrial revolution.
The ReInHerit Digital Hub is now operational, serving as a catalyst for empowering cultural heritage professionals. It provides resources to foster synergies, develop strategies, and implement tools for sustainable digital transformation, thereby facilitating social, cultural, and technological innovation.