Cultural heritage is evolving rapidly thanks to digital technologies. The momentum is now to preserve our cultural heritage and bring it to this digital decade.
Unprecedented opportunities brought by technologies, such as Data, AI, 3D and XR brings cultural heritage sites back to life. Virtual museums offer visitors the possibility to see art works in context and experience objects or sites inaccessible to the public. The transformation of the sector is resulting in easier online access to cultural material for everybody.
The European Commission Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content & Technology has conducted extensive policy coordination and funding actions to supplement Member States’ cultural policy. These actions cover the areas of digitisation, online access to cultural material and digital preservation.
The role of the European Commission
The European Commission fuels the policy debate and brings stakeholders together to improve the framework conditions for digitisation and digital preservation. It does so through its Recommendation on a common European data space for cultural heritage.
The European Commission's Expert Group on a common European Data Space for Cultural Heritage (CEDCHE) monitors progress towards the implementation of the Commission's Recommendation. The CEDCHE reviews and discusses policies for digital cultural heritage and the upcoming initiative for a common European data space. It also facilitates the exchange of information and good practices working closely with cultural institutions.
Funding instruments
Please refer to European Commission’s webpage Funding and Tenders Portal for complete information on open calls digital cultural heritage and tourism.
Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe calls for Cultural Heritage (the list is not exhaustive)
Digital Europe Programme
Preparatory actions for Data Spaces (DIGITAL-2021-PREPACTS-DS-01)
Previous actions
Actions under Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges 6 programmes for 2014-2020 have supported the following topics with an EU funding of around €70 million:
DT-TRANSFORMATIONS-24-2020 - European Museum Collaboration and Innovation Space
Curation of digital assets and advanced digitisation (2018)
European cultural heritage, access and analysis for a richer interpretation of the past (2017)
Cost-effective technologies for advanced 3D modelling to enhance the understanding of cultural heritage and Innovation Ecosystems of Digital Cultural Assets, Virtual Museums (.pdf) (2014-2016)
Latest News
The European Commission published the fourth State of the Digital Decade report, showing that Europe has made progress on its 2030 digital transformation targets, such as secure and sustainable digital infrastructures and the digitalisation of public services – but the challenge now is delivering results at scale, speed and consistency.
The Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, alongside Cyprus' Deputy Minister of culture, Vasiliki Kassiandou, on behalf of the Council of the EU, will host Twin It! II event to close the two-part campaign and showcase the achievements in digitisation to preserve cultural heritage across the EU.
The European Commission's State of the Digital Decade 2025 report assessed the EU's progress along the four target areas for the EU's digital transformation by 2030, highlighting achievements and gaps in the areas of digital infrastructure, digitalisation of businesses, digital skills, and digitalisation of public service.
The Commission has released a collection of 3D-digitised cultural heritage assets on Europeana, the common European data space for cultural heritage.
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