The value of mass-digitised cultural heritage content in creative contexts

Coleman, Stephen; Terras, Melissa; Thornton, Pip; Smyth, Michael; Schafer, Burkhard; Drost, Steven; Pegado, Briana; Panneels, Inge; Elsden, Chris; Osborne, Nicola; Lechelt, Susan; Helgason, Ingi; Speed, Chris

Abstract

How can digitised assets of Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums be reused to unlock new value? What are the implications of viewing large-scale cultural heritage data as an economic resource, to build new products and services upon? Drawing upon valuation studies, we reflect on both the theory and practicalities of using mass-digitised heritage content as an economic driver, stressing the need to consider the complexity of commercial-based outcomes within the context of cultural and creative industries. However, we also problematise the act of considering such heritage content as a resource to be exploited for economic growth, in order to inform how we consider, develop, deliver and value mass-digitisation. Our research will be of interest to those wishing to understand a rapidly changing research and innovation landscape, those considering how to engage memory institutions in data-driven activities and those critically evaluating years of mass-digitisation across the heritage sector.

Citation

Coleman, S., Terras, M., Thornton, P., Smyth, M., Schafer, B., Drost, S., …Speed, C. (2021). The value of mass-digitised cultural heritage content in creative contexts. Big Data and Society, 8(1), https://doi.org/10.1177/20539517211006165

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Apr 6, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Deposit Date: Apr 13, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 13, 2021
• Journal: Big Data & Society
• Print ISSN: 2053-9517
• Electronic ISSN: 2053-9517
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 1
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20539517211006165
• Keywords: Digitisation, creative industries, cultural heritage, GLAM institutions, industrial strategy, entrepreneurship
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2759671