What do we mean when we talk about infrastructure for Digital Cultural Heritage research? How can we get a better understanding of current priorities, concerns and hopes by imagining and collectively scrutinising possibilities for the future? These two questions are informing a research project at the University of Edinburgh, UK, funded by the Creative Informatics AHRC Creative Cluster programme.
Building on ideas distilled and reimagined from a literature review and nine expert interviews undertaken in late 2023 and early 2024 the research team mapped the big themes they saw in this data, considered these themes in relation to key literature on infrastructure and digital cultural heritage, and imagined the scenarios that might follow: Magic Elves, The Old Farm, Pay to Play, History of Buttons, Buddy System, National Treasures, SASi, Green Machine.
The research team, Dr Jen Ross (lead), Cate Schofield, Dr Philippa Sheail, and Professor Melissa Terras, are asking for feedback on the eight futures scenarios created through the project. Digital cultural heritage researchers and professionals working with digital collections are invited to participate in the project via survey or attendance at either an in-person event in Edinburgh (18th April) or online (24th April).
The scenarios can all be accessed on the project page.
Find out more
Infrastructure Futures for Digital Cultural Heritage project page
Complete the 'Future Scenarios for Digital Cultural Heritage' survey
Workshop: Infrastructure Futures for Digital Cultural Heritage (in-person), 18th April
Workshop: Infrastructure Futures for Digital Cultural Heritage (online), 24th April