Museums, Intangible Cultural Heritage and Digital Technologies: Exploring Interactions

Abstract

Digital technologies have been approached as potential tools for museums to expand on how they provide access to and interaction with heritage. A museum that includes Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) safeguarding in its mission and strategy will not ignore the potential of new technologies and, thus, the assessment of its capacity to integrate them according to the museum's agenda and its objectives. On the other hand, a museum that is able to address digital transformation strategically will be in a better position to use technologies wisely to foster ICH visibility and awareness, interpretation and interaction. This chapter will focus on the challenges of integrating digital technologies in the Portuguese museum sector and identify the constraints and opportunities. This reflection draws on research conducted within the scope of the Mu.SA project (2016-2020) and the research performed in the Future Museums Project Group (2019-2020). Within the scope of post pandemic recovery plans, it is even more pressing that cultural policies foresee support for museums, namely regarding digital transformation, and ensure that they have the necessary conditions and resources to move forward in a more integrated and sustainable manner. Museums that adopt a more strategic approach to digital transformation will be able to capitalize on their resources to effectively fulfil their mission and goals. Hence, museums will be more effective in increasing access and expanding the means of communicating and supporting ICH safeguarding.