The team of Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Athens participated in the second Forum of the European Heritage Hub “Championing a responsible digital transition for and with cultural heritage” which took place in Bucharest, on October 7th. More than 30 experts on the digital transition of cultural heritage discussed various aspects of the subject at the historic Royal Palace in Bucharest (now home of the National Museum of Art).
Focus on Cultural Heritage and the Digital Transformation
Discussions addressed the urgent need for human-centred and value-based uses of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with regard to cultural heritage. The Forum also highlighted the vital interaction between the digital dimension of heritage preservation and pinpointed key challenges and opportunities, related to heritage digitisation in Europe.
A key outcome of the Forum is the Call for Action which highlights the importance of a socially and environmentally responsible digital transformation in the cultural heritage sector and its role in shaping Europe’s (digital) future. The Call for Action is extremely relevant today, as the latest wave of the digital revolution, powered by AI, is reshaping life with unprecedented innovation and efficiency. However, it also poses ethical challenges and risks.
The video recording of the event including the presentations of Sabine Verheyen, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Harry Verwayen, General Director of the Europeana Foundation, Oonagh Murphy, Lecturer at the Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship and Michelle Thorne from Green Web Foundation, is available on vimeo.
Celebrating Excellence in the Cultural Heritage Sector – Europa Nostra Awards Ceremony
The Forum was a key component of the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2024 organised by Europa Nostra under the High Patronage of the President of Romania, 6th – 8th October. Elliniki Etairia – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ELLET), which is the country representation of Europa Nostra in Greece and affiliated partner in the EU funded, pilot project European Heritage Hub also participated in the European Heritage Awards Ceremony, where the Greek, non-profit organization Boulouki – Travelling Workshop on Traditional Building, received an award on the category Education, Training and Skills.
ELLET organized a tour of the historical centre of Bucharest with emphasis on highlighting the Greek presence and its role in the history of the city. The tour was offered by the prolific writer and historian Mr. Tudor Dinu, professor of Modern Greek Studies at the University of Bucharest and honorary doctorate of the Democritus University of Thrace.
