Version française |Digital technology and museums: An interview with David VuillaumeWe recent

Version française |Digital technology and museums: An interview with David VuillaumeWe recently sat down with David Vuillaume, director of the German Museums Association (Deutscher Musemsbund e.V.) and president of the Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO) which is the European Commission’s partner on European museum issues. A speaker, with Iconem’s co-founder and president, Yves Ubelmann, for a round table during the SITEM museum fair in Paris in January of this year, Vuillaume shared with us the challenges facing digital technologies in German and European museums. Vuillaume expands on these challenges and the European Year of Cultural Heritage in this two-part interview.What impact does digital technology have on your work? Digital technology is a very long-term phenomenon that is going to alter, and which is already in the process of changing, quite a few things in museums. We still lack perspective on these new tools, which is necessary so that museums can determine their long-term added value and utility. On the other hand, we sometimes forget that digitisation is a phenomenon that affects the entire institution: its operation, its educational programming, its communication, etc. Digital technology is much more than an operational or inventory tool. Current debates in Germany have made me aware that as museum inventories are not yet complete, this foundational work must first be finished so museums can then really take advantage of all available technologies in cultural programming, communication, etc. There is the misleading impression that museums are behind in regards to new technology, as if they were not interested in using these new tools. But they must first lay the groundwork, in other words, digitise their inventories.David Vuillaume. Credit:  Heike Grasser How does the German Museums Association invest in digital technology issues?We have two goals. The first goal is about raising awareness. We would like all museums, no matter their size, as well as all museum staff members, no matter their position; age; or region, be trained in digital technologies. That is, that they be familiar with current market offerings and with what they can use to achieve their goals, especially in museum education or in operations. Raising awareness first is key since there are people who do not use digital services simply because they are not familiar with them.Our second objective is above all else to obtain dedicated budgets in every German länder. It is the länder, the regions, that are responsible for cultural budgets. A budget specifically for general digitisation in the cultural field seems necessary to us, and in particular for digital inventories that can then be used in many ways. The German Museums Associations celebrated 100 years in 2017! Credit: Deutscher Musemsbund e.V. What problems do you encounter? There are two kinds of barriers that slow down the use of digital technologies. First, there is the reluctance of people who are neither trained in nor really aware of digital issues. Digital technology is an advancement, a well-established societal trend. It is no longer possible to work without these new tools. Basic training in digital technology is necessary. Furthermore, there are museum professionals who would really like, but are unable, to work with digital technology. Why? Because local or regional authorities have infrastructures or guidelines that prevent the development of certain digital services. For example, it is very difficult for a public museum’s communication department to have a Facebook page or a Twitter account because, from a hierarchical point of view, all decisions must be made at the highest level. It is impossible in these circumstances to have the responsiveness necessary for a presence on Twitter. Things are changing. The lines are shifting through a general modernisation process of public administration. It is on going. The second part of this interview will be available soon. For more information about the Deutscher Musemsbund e.V., you can check out the association’s Facebook page and Twitter account. NEMO is also active on Facebook and Twitter. You can also follow David on Twitter at @DavidVuillaume.Main photo: David Vuillaume speaking during SITEM in Paris (second from the right) with co-participants (from left to right) Yves Ubelmann, co-founder and president of Iconem; Anne-Catherine Robert-Hauglustaine, director of the Air and Space Museum at Le Bourget; and Laurent Lévi-Strauss, senior consultant for the president of the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme and board member of Europa Nostra. Credit: Iconem -- source link

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