The European Heritage Hub: supporting Europe’s triple transformation
Europe is currently undergoing wide-ranging and swift changes. From the rise of artificial intelligence, to a severe climate crisis, to socio-political challenges, to growing polarisation, life is being reshaped for citizens across the continent - and the wider world.
The European Union has shown a bold ambition to approach these changes in a concerted and coherent way, pursuing what the Hub has coined a holistic ‘Triple transformation’ which integrates green, digital and social innovation into policies, technologies and approaches. The potential of the cultural heritage sector to drive and support this transformation is widely acknowledged, including in key EU policies like the New Agenda for Culture, the European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage, the EU strategy for international cultural relations, and the Commission’s Communication on a common European data space for cultural heritage. The European Heritage Hub’s work is also grounded in this shared vision of the transformative potential of cultural heritage.
The European Heritage Hub is a two-year pilot project launched in May 2023 by a consortium of 20 partners, led by Europa Nostra and co-funded by the European Union, to set up a permanent and autonomous heritage hub in Europe. Using the green, digital and social triple transformation of Europe as the overarching theme for all its activities, the Heritage Hub aims to build the capacity for action and advocacy of the European heritage sector to support the transition towards a more sustainable, innovative and inclusive future. Find out more.
The upcoming Forum: a focus on digital
The European Heritage Hub brings together a large array of heritage stakeholders and initiatives, from local to European and international, with each partner bringing specific and much-valued skills and knowledge to the project.
At the Europeana Foundation, we are proud to contribute our 15 years of experience empowering the digital transformation of the cultural heritage sector and our expertise as the steward of the common European data space for cultural heritage to lead the project’s focus on the digital aspect of the triple transformation framework. This focus takes shape in the upcoming European Heritage Hub Forum, ‘Championing a responsible digital transition for and with cultural heritage’, which we are excited to power.
The event - the project’s second Forum - will delve into the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital transition of the cultural heritage sector. It will explore how our sector can and is already embracing a socially and environmentally responsible digital transition and how it can support and inspire Europe’s digital future. The Forum will also highlight the vital interaction between the digital dimension of heritage preservation and the role of heritage for the social and environmental transformation of our society and economy.
Five reasons to join
The Forum will take place on 7 October 2024, in person in Bucharest, Romania, and online, and it is not yet too late to register to join the conference digitally! If the description above has not already raised your interest, here are five additional reasons to register to join.
Discover the latest policy developments. The Forum’s programme will feature panel discussions which will bring together policy-makers and professionals to assess the digital transformation of the cultural heritage sector. Their exchanges will pinpoint key challenges and opportunities, showcase best practices and explore forward-looking themes related to heritage digitisation in Europe - don’t miss your chance to follow and contribute.
Hear from diverse speakers and initiatives. The Forum will welcome a uniquely diverse range of speakers and contributors through its doors; from national and local representatives to European Union policymakers , to experts from the European cultural heritage ecosystem to partners from industry, the Forum will offer a chance to hear from a wide range of perspectives and learn from different viewpoints.
Hear the latest on artificial intelligence. AI will be a topic in focus at the Forum. Discussions will address the urgent need for human-centred and value-based uses of AI with regard to cultural heritage. An inspirational talk, video provocation and panel conversation offer a chance to hear the latest about the opportunities - and challenges - AI poses for the cultural heritage sector.
Get inspired about an environmentally responsible digital transition. What role can the cultural heritage sector play in the green transition and what should be the level of its ambitions? Hear viewpoints from expert speakers in talks, a provocation and panel discussion on the ‘green’ aspect of the sector’s triple transformation.
Be part of the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2024. The European Heritage Hub Forum is a key component of the European Cultural Heritage Summit, which is organised by Europa Nostra under the High Patronage of the President of Romania and in cooperation with and support from the European Commission. The Summit will gather stakeholders from all levels of governance as well as the cultural heritage leaders of today and tomorrow in Bucharest, and you can join the Forum to hear their perspectives and take part in the wider event.