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

• Main Authors: Melissa Terras, Stephen Coleman, Steven Drost, Chris Elsden, Ingi Helgason, Susan Lechelt, Nicola Osborne, Inge Panneels, Briana Pegado, Burkhard Schafer, Michael Smyth, Pip Thornton, Chris Speed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2021-04-01
• Series: Big Data & Society
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/20539517211006165

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.