news 1| 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK OF EUROPEAN MUSEUM ORGANISATIONS Digitisation in European Museums Photo © Thorsten Siegmann Digitisation of museum objects at the bpk-images Archive, Berlin stated in August 2006, efforts in this Libraries are leading the way in Equal access assures all area will contribute to Europe’s digitisation but in order to have a “ competitiveness and support European complete overview of our cultural European citizens oppor- Union action in the cultural field. heritage we need to include archives tunities to explore their Firstly, material from different cultures and museums in this process, too. A lot common cultural heritage. and in different languages will be avail- of museums have already created able online for citizens, and thereby fos- digitised information about the cultural ter awareness of their respective nation- heritage in their care. al cultural heritage and the heritage of Digitisation of cultural and scientific other European countries. EUROPEANA heritage is currently one of the main will contribute to presenting Europe’s Museums play a central focuses of the European Cultural rich and diverse heritage on the Internet “ Agenda. and to protecting cultural objects from role in promoting culture Member States are engaged in various irrevocable loss. and preserving European ongoing initiatives to digitise the content Secondly, the cultural heritage sector will of their archives, libraries and museums benefit from the digitisation process. cultural heritage. and make it accessible online. Contribu- Thirdly, such activities will contribute to tors have to date made varying levels of enhancing growth in related sectors progress. such as tourism, education and media. NEMO’s role in the digitisation context is EUROPEANA was conceived as a The initiative to ‘make the wealth of two-fold: it gathers and distributes news multilingual point of access to Europe’s material in Europe’s libraries, museums about EU digital initiatives that concern digital cultural heritage, capable of and archives accessible to all’ stems museums, and provides information storing data on all types of cultural from Viviane Reding, European about successful museum digitisation material (texts, audiovisual media, Commissioner for the Information projects on its website. museum objects, archival records etc.) Society and Media. The first steps to In doing so, NEMO seeks to encourage and delivering it to users. The initiative’s launch this initiative were taken following museums to take an active part in the aim is to enable all Europeans to access a recommendation on the digitisation digitisation process and make their Europe’s collective memory and use it and online accessibility of cultural treasures visible online. for education, work, leisure and material made by the European creativity. As the European Commission Commission on 24th August 2006. By | Monika Hagedorn-Saupe news 2 1| 2008 The European Agenda for Culture The first ever EU Cultural Strategy The European Agenda for Page 2 Culture In November 2007 the EU finally is the third set of objectives. As a party A Letter from the NEMO Page 3 adopted the ‘European Agenda for to the UNESCO Convention on the Chairwoman Culture’. This affirms the central role of Protection and the Promotion of the NEMO Activities culture in the process of European Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the EU The i2010-Strategy Page 4 integration and proposes a cultural is committed to developing a new and Digitisation Projects in Page 5 agenda for Europe and for Europe’s more active cultural role for Europe in Europe relations with non-European countries. It international relations, and to integrating An Interview with Viviane Page 6 was adopted in the wake of an extensive the cultural dimension as a vital Reding consultation process involving decision- component of Europe’s dealings with EUROPEANA Page 8 makers and interested parties from all partner countries and regions. over Europe. A fundamental feature of the new European Museums and Page 9 policy stance is the proposal to the ICT Three common sets of objectives introduce a more structured system of European Museum Page 10 were identified as being crucial to cooperation among Member States and Landscapes Europe’s cultural development: 1. cultural diversity and intercultural EU institutions on cultural matters, which About: Romania Page 12 dialogue is based on the ‘open method of coordi- 2. culture as a catalyst for nation’ (OMC). This intergovernmental, creativity voluntary and flexible instrument is 3. culture as a key component in intended to stimulate Member States to international relations. NEMO – The Network of European Museum reflect, converse and exchange ideas on Organisations is an independent network Under the first set of objectives, the a number of key policy issues. representing the European museum com- Union and all other stakeholders are to In addition to experts nominated by munity. For more information about NEMO, work together to foster intercultural Member States, civil society stake- visit: www.ne-mo.org dialogue and ensure that the EU’s cultural holders were invited to Brussels on news diversity is understood, respected and 19 February 2008, to contribute to the is produced by the promoted. To do so they should, for European Agenda for Culture by German Museums Association example, seek to enhance the cross- participating in three different platforms Editor: Julia Pagel border mobility of artists and workers in covering the topics: Intercultural Picture Research: André Wipper the cultural sector and the cross-border Dialogue, Access to Culture and Contributors: Christophe Dessaux, Monika dissemination of works of art. Creative Industries. Hagedorn-Saupe, Mechtild Kronenberg, Vera Neukirchen, Maria Teresa Natale, Frank The second set of objectives focuses Maier-Solgk, Dragos Eduard Neamu, on the promotion of culture as a catalyst NEMO participates in the platform Jonathan Purday for creativity in the framework of the “Access to Culture” as a spokes- person for European museums and Design: Hannu Rinne Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs. Proofreading an T<ranslation: Jill Denton will ensure that the potential of Cultural industries are an asset to museums is fully tapped. Printing: MK Druck, Berlin, Germany Europe’s economy and competitiveness. NEMO News is also available in pdf format Creativity generates both social and The first results of the platforms will be at www.ne-mo.org technological innovation and stimulates presented in the first half of 2009. growth and jobs in the EU. Member States, civil society stakeholders Looking for MUSEUMpartners Promotion of culture as a vital compo- and the EC will come together to present in EU-projects? nent of the Union’s international relations their results to the Cultural Forum in 2010. Go to our website: www.ne-mo.org At the last NEMO annual meeting, held in Riga/Latvia in November 2007, With the support of the European Mechtild Kronenberg (German Museums Community budget line ‘Support for Association) was re-elected to act as bodies active at European level in the Chair of NEMO for the coming two years. field of culture’ The following board members were re-elected: Anja-Tuulikki Huovinen (Finnish Museums Association), Frank Birkebæk (Roskilde Museum, Denmark) and Mark Taylor (Museums Association, UK). Margherita Sani (Istituto Beni “This project has been funded with Culturali Regione Emilia Romagna, support from the European Commission. Italy) and Elizabeta Petrus˘ a-Strukelj This publication reflects the views only NEMO executive board: Elizabeta Petrus˘a- (Slovenian Museums Association) Strukelj, Frank Birkebæk, Margherita Sani, of the author, and the Commission were also appointed to the NEMO cannot be held responsible for any use Mechtild Kronenberg, Anja-Tuulikki Huovinen, Mark Taylor executive board in Riga. which may be made of the information contained therein.” news 1| 2008 3 A Letter from the NEMO Chairwoman One key objective of current European Another topic that NEMO is focusing policy is to make the content and on is the role of museums regarding digitally preserved material of archives, the Lifelong Learning. Many institutions museums and libraries more widely are already dealing with this issue as available – thereby taking into account opportunities for informal learning are the right of all European citizens to becoming increasingly important. A equal access to their cultural heritage. general introduction to adult learning, In support of this policy, cultural presentations of case studies and institutions throughout Europe have examples of good practice, and an In addition, various internal NEMO started to convert their ‘analogue’ overview of the funding opportunities issues and other subjects relevant to collections into digital form. So, in available to museums in the framework European museums will be discussed. March 2008, as a means of encouraging of the European Union’s Grundtvig NEMO is also looking forward to museums in particular to participate in Programme will be the focus of this presenting an account of its European this digitisation process and facilitate year’s NEMO annual meeting, to be activities during the last year. An direct access to Europe’s cultural held in Ljubljana/Slovenia from 28th to important step was its participation in heritage, NEMO published the brochure 30th November 2008. In keeping with the EU Structured Dialogue via the “Digitisation in European Museums”. this topic, the meeting will open its Civil