From Data to Impact: Assessing the Value of Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age

This paper explores the complex landscape associated with the evaluation of the impact of digital cultural heritage initiatives within the European Union. While the present body of research has so far addressed various facets of digital culture and heritage, including digital humanities, a comprehensive understanding of the impact of digital heritage (i.e., LAM) projects on broader cultural, social, and economic contexts remains a critical gap. This is particularly important given the increasing emphasis on demonstrating value of and securing support for these initiatives. The EU recognizes this strategic importance, promoting digital transformation within the cultural heritage sector and setting ambitious digitization goals. However, the shift from digitization to digital transformation, alongside the more traditional concerns of access and preservation, requires a focus on sustainability, encompassing social and environmental impact, long-term preservation, and economic viability. By employing critical desk research, this paper examines the EU policies concerning digital cultural heritage and the challenges of measuring impact, discussing key concepts like sustainability and digital maturity. It provides an overview of prominent impact assessment frameworks, analysing their strengths and limitations and considering their appropriateness for today policy context. We conclude by arguing the importance of developing and applying holistic IA frameworks that consider the diverse values and long-term sustainability of digital cultural heritage initiatives, facilitating a shift from simply collecting data to demonstrating meaningful change.