NEXT-MUSEUM: Stimulating digitization at small and medium-sized museums through the enhancement of the Digital Curator

NEXT-MUSEUM was conceived in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic as a response to overcome the difficulties encountered in the museum field. In particular, the proposal aimed to support small a...

The action has set the general objective to provide small and medium-sized museums with a new generation of specialized EU professionals working in the CH sector, equipped with a recognised, cross-cutting and high-level digital skillset: the Digital Curator (DC). By working both at museums’ institutional levels and at target beneficiaries’ (professionals) level, the specific objectives of the project have been to: 1) encourage the digitisation of cultural heritage in the management of small and medium-sized museums; 2) improve the digital skills of museum professionals specifically related to cataloguing and resource management 3) improve the digital skills of museum professionals specifically related to heritage promotion, storytelling, and public accessibility 4) provide a model for museum organizations that want to approach digitalisation along two main paths: (a) instruments and resources for the digital training of museum operators; (b) Strategies for the exploitation of digital resources to broaden visitor experiences 5) encourage and test public involvement in digital initiatives undertaken by participating museums, all while assessing the theoretical skills of digital curators in the field.

MUSEUM-NEXT has implemented activities on 4 main levels: - Background research and desk analysis oriented to the production of Guidelines for the adoption and proper use of digital technologies - Transfer of knowledge in museum digitalization by means of a transnational training for digital curators for exchange of competences and mutual upskilling, followed by 3 local training activities organised in the museums targeted by the project in Italy, Spain and Croatia; - Design and implementation of pilot testing actions in the 3 targeted local museums, which were conceptualised during the local trainings thanks to the transfer of knowledge from the transnational training and the customisation of skills; - Elaboration of a strategic vision for the 3 museums targeted by the project for a digital transition plan, by means of defining a DOP-Digital Operational Plan for the adoption of digitization in small and medium-sized museums. Communication and dissemination activities have also been carried out all through the project implementation for target engagement, audience reach and capitalisation of produced results.

NEXT-MUSEUM produced: R1-Guidelines for the adoption and proper use of digital technologies, an in-depth analysis of the state of art on digital transition, best EU practices, available VET opportunities, SWOT analysis of 3 targeted museums. R1 contributed to: raise awareness on the professional figure of Digital Curator;a shared overview of the most adequate tools and strategies to be used by Digital Curators in small-scale museums. R2-Open pilot actions in the 3 targeted museum using digital tools & technologies. Scientific projects have been produced to illustrate the context, as well as a joint training report of all learning activities that led to their design. R2 contributed to: streamline target museums’ digital literacy and expand the cultural offer;mitigate Covid-19 negative effects;stimulate employment of Digital Curators;increase audiences’ accessibility to culture. R3-Digital Operation Plan for the adoption of digitization in small and medium-sized museums, which contributed to: support the recovery of small/medium museums;a shared vision for the increase of digital competencies in local museums;disseminate awareness on Digital Curation and the integration of digital museum planning in multilevel governance.