CFP deadline: November 11, 2024
The seventh edition of our conference series is dedicated to the ethical and social implications of the digital transformation in museums. Digital technologies present both opportunities and challenges. For example, museums can use digital media to make their collections accessible to a wider audience and create interactive experiences. At the same time, however, they must also take into account matters of data security, copyright, and cultural representation. In this context, digital humanism in museums refers to the integration of digital technologies and methods into museum practice to improve the understanding and accessibility of cultural heritage. This approach aims to bring human values and social aspects of culture to the fore while using modern technologies to intensify the interaction between artwork and audience. Digital humanism recognizes the potential of information technology but at the same time identifies possible threats and the need for ethical guidelines in the context of artificial intelligence, automation, and job losses (Vienna Manifesto, 2019). Digital humanism in art and cultural heritage institutions therefore aims to ensure that the use of digital technologies does not become an end in itself or a playground for global corporations. This conference provides a platform for exchanging ideas and sharing best practices to shape the digital transformation in line with humanistic values.
Ultimately, digital humanism helps to position museums as dynamic places of learning and exchange that reflect the diversity of human experiences and perspectives. This event aims to explore the intersections between digital technologies and humanistic approaches in museums and discuss how these synergies can improve the understanding and accessibility of cultural heritage. We are therefore looking for contributions that cover the following topics:
- Ethical issues in the context of digital technologies in museums
- The role of digital technologies in the mediation of cultural heritage
- Innovative approaches to the digital accessibility of collections
- Interactive and immersive experiences in digital space
- Source criticism and digital literacy in the age of deep fakes
- Accessibility, inclusion, and responsibility in digital initiatives
- Preservation and conservation of born-digital objects
- The power of platforms in museums
- The future of digital humanism in museum practice
All talks will be held online. The panel discussion and a workshop for registered participants (Friday) will also take place in person at the Belvedere, Vienna. Participation in the conference is free of charge. For more information about the conference theme and the CFP, visit The Art Museum in the Digital Age – 2025.
We look forward to your paper proposals in the fields of museums/museology, art and cultural history, visual and media studies, and digital humanities. Please submit your abstract for a twenty- to twenty-five-minute presentation in German or English (max. 250 words) including a short biography with complete contact information as a PDF document by 11 November, 2024, to: conferences@belvedere.at.