Common European data space for cultural heritage : annual report 2022/2023

In the first year of deployment of the common European data space for cultural heritage, we have shaped this new initiative and brought it to life. The data space offers the opportunity to support advances in technology and to innovate in areas like 3D and AI, to aggregate, enrich, promote and communicate high-quality digital data, to reach diverse audiences and provide them with ways and incentives to reuse this data, and to create digital environments that are inclusive, collaborative and jointly owned. It has been an exciting year as we have started to deliver on these opportunities for the sector. Our evolution from a digital service infrastructure to a thriving data space is well and truly underway, and we can look back on the achievements of the first year with pride. This year, collaboration took on an even greater significance. Cooperation between consortium partners, the Europeana Network Association, the Europeana Aggregators' Forum and the Data Space Support Centre enhanced our efforts in all areas, from data governance and supporting cultural heritage institutions to engage with aggregators, to thinking about a more decentralised aggregation model, and taking further steps to develop our capacity building framework. Success of the data space will depend largely on the active and sustained contribution of Member States, so engagement here has been an important focus this year. We organised two events under the Presidencies of the Council of the European Union, building new connections and exploring the potential of 3D for the cultural heritage sector.