Platforms On The Future Of Cultural Heritage: the contribute of the REACH Project

After the remarkable experiences and results reached in the framework  of the European Year of CH 2018, the European Commission proposes new challenges and opportunities of cohesion.
In this general context the event of Prague comes up in the form of a forum, a global problem solving platforms on the future of cultural heritage. The purpose of the meeting is to create a space for exchanging ideas between professionals from various backgrounds, including heritage professionals, activists, academics, local authorities, and representatives of foundations and centralised institutions such as the European Commission.
There will be no formal presentation or speech.  This Prague Global Platform is neither a seminar nor a workshop. Case studies and best practices will be used just for supporting  the illustration of the participants' ideas and proposals. The aim of participating in the Prague Global Platform is indeed to share background knowledge and expertise and jointly explore possible approaches, methods and solutions for heritage-based solutions to societal challenges.
The forum will focus on cultural heritage and digitalization. Three parallel working groups, each moderated by a facilitator, will explore the following themes:
- Intangible cultural heritage and digitalisation: New technologies have created an unprecedented opportunity to allow for the preservation, protection, transmission, research, valorisation, and access to intangible cultural heritage. This theme explores how digital processes relating to intangible heritage can be implemented and improved, and the possibilities they create for the expanded preservation and use of intangible cultural heritage.
- Digital cultural heritage, the tech industry, and smart and inclusive growth: Technological innovation plays a key role in the development of economies and communities, but currently most of this innovation has been concentrated in a few hubs. How will future technologies disperse these benefits and developments? This theme explores how technology and cultural heritage can interact economically at the local and regional level, reducing stress on big cities and distributing the benefits of the use of cultural heritage in commercial applications.
- Enhanced digitally enabled cultural heritage participation for all citizens: Digitally connected technologies allow for widespread dissemination and access to cultural heritage elements in a variety of formats. Cultural organisations have an opportunity to act as enablers and hubs for digital cultural heritage goods and can play a key part in stimulating active citizenship. This theme looks at how organisations can utilise new platforms to reach wider audiences and provide deeper and more personal access to various cultural goods as well as the effects of this expanded access on individuals, culture, and society more broadly.
Ms Antonella Fresa expert on digital cultural heritage will participate to the debate on behalf of the REACH project where she plays the role of Network Coordination. In this context she will share the experience in the promotion of social participation in Cultural Heritage and she will present Open-Heritage.eu, the independent online space of the REACH social platform open to the contribution of the whole community of Heritage Research.