Digital Cultural Heritage and the Making of European Identity : Modelling Europeana

In an increasingly digital world, the European Commission uses digital cultural heritage to foster a sense of European identity. This book explores how the Commission has implemented its cultural agenda using digital means, how this process has impacted the digitisation of European heritage institutions, and what the implications are for the Europeanisation of cultural heritage.

Using Europeana, a platform that aggregates digital cultural heritage produced in Europe, as a case study, this research scrutinises the lifecycle of digital cultural heritage items- from their creation and cataloguing to their use in exhbitions- to uncover the technological, political, and ethical assumptions underlying digital strategies and their implications for museum audiences. While traditional museums have been extensively studied regarding their collection and presentation policies, this work critically addresses the curatorial processes for virtual collections, where digital heritage has become an integral part of exhibitions. By providing an in-depth analysis of Europeana and its role in shaping European digital heritage, this book offers valuable insights into the broader implications of digitisation for cultural institutions and the Europeanisation of citizens.