In accordance with successive governments’ transversal Digital Lëtzebuerg strategy, launched in 2014, the coalition agreement 2018-2023 of the current government puts much importance on the digitalisation of the cultural sector.[1]
Acknowledging both the necessity and labour-intensive nature of effectively managing digital collections, whether digitized- or digital-born, but also considering the paradigm shift that an increasingly digital society represents, the ministry of Culture put in place a digital strategy for cultural heritage in 2017.
Accordingly, the three main objectives of the strategy are: 1) Broad and inclusive access to digital cultural heritage, 2) Synergies between cultural heritage institutions, 3) A sustainable and quality-oriented digital cultural heritage ecosystem.
A 2017 survey on Luxembourg’s digital cultural heritage identified several challenges: strategic and financial planning; staffing and skills; documentation issues; technical infrastructure; accessibility of existing digital assets and rights related issues. Therefore, making the readiness by the ministry to take the strategic lead, by creating a service at policy level that supports and coordinates the digital evolution of the cultural heritage sector, all the more important and relevant.
Further reflections are ongoing to expand the ministry’s digital strategy to include the creative sectors. Certain elements are already in place such as funding schemes for digital art creation. This needs to be further embedded in the overall digital strategy, including aspects of preservation and the interaction with the public.
Apart from the need to adopt a digital strategy for cultural heritage, the current Cultural development plan (KEP) recognizes the necessity to “consider at its fair value the growing place of digital culture and all that it can bring in terms of cultural content, audiences, virtual identities and new networks. Whilst also reflecting on the central role of digital technologies in the creation, production and accessibility of content.”[2] And, more broadly culture’s place in an increasingly digital and data driven society.
[1] Les partis de la coalition DP, LSAP et déi gréng (2018) Accord de coalition 2018-2023, p.88
[2] Kulturentwécklungsplang eBook 1.0 – Septembre 2018, Volume 1, p.84
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