Scientific publications and research outcomes
Socio-Economic Drivers of Cultural Heritage Digitization in the EU
Publication in the journal ‘heritage’.
Daina Klepone, Paulius Šumakaris, Kristina Kovaite and Karolina Šumakariene.
Cultural heritage digitization (CHD) has become a strategic priority in European cultural and digital policies, driving efforts to enhance accessibility, preservation, and economic engagement. As digital technologies reshape the cultural sector, CHD increasingly intersects with the digital economy, fostering new forms of value creation. Despite this, empirical research on the socioeconomic drivers of CHD remains limited, with existing studies focused mainly on conceptual discussions, expert-based assessments, or institutional case studies.
This study systematically analyzes the socioeconomic drivers shaping CHD across Europe using large-scale data from ENUMERATE and Eurostat. An econometric approach combining Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) is employed to capture both linear and non-linear relationships.
The findings show that CHD is shaped by a complex interplay of economic capacity, digital infrastructure, institutional strategy, and societal demand, rather than by targeted funding initiatives alone. By bridging conceptual discussions and systematic econometric analysis, the study provides a robust empirical framework for understanding the external conditions that influence CHD and offers evidence-based insights to support more targeted digital transformation strategies in the European cultural sector.
Artificial Surrealism and Authors’ Rights
Publication in the journal ‘Santander Art and Culture Law Review’.
Artha Dermawan.
The article examines the growing use of artificial intelligence in artistic and cultural production, with a particular focus on its implications for authors’ rights and cultural heritage. It introduces the concept of “artificial surrealism” to describe AI-generated outputs that draw extensively on existing cultural materials while obscuring human authorship and creative intention. Against this background, the paper analyses how current copyright frameworks respond to AI systems trained on large-scale cultural datasets, including digitised heritage collections.
The article argues that prevailing approaches risk weakening both authors’ rights and the protection of cultural heritage by normalising extensive, unremunerated reuse of protected works. Particular attention is paid to training practices, attribution, and the erosion of meaningful control for creators and heritage-holding institutions. The paper situates these developments within broader debates on access to culture, technological innovation, and the public interest.
By combining doctrinal copyright analysis with examples drawn from the arts and cultural heritage sector, the article highlights gaps in existing legal safeguards and reflects on possible regulatory and licensing responses. It concludes by proposing that a novel licensing regime which could support innovation in AI while preserving the economic and moral interests of authors and the integrity of cultural heritage materials.
Il patrimonio culturale digitale delle minoranze etniche: il progetto DIGICHer tra le comunità Sámi, ladine ed ebraiche in Europa.
(The digital cultural heritage of ethnic minorities: the DIGICHer project among the Sámi, Ladin and Jewish communities in Europe).
Proceedings of the XIV Annual AIUCD2025 Conference.
Matteo Cova, Eleonora De Longis.
This contribution presents the objectives and methodological development of the European project DIGICHer, dedicated to revising the guidelines for the digitalization of the cultural heritage of ethnic minorities in Europe. In collaboration with the Sámi, Ladin, and Jewish communities, through a highly multidisciplinary approach, the project aims to build a methodology to address a process of digital transition of cultural heritage that confronts the issues of ethics and sustainability.
Please note that this paper is in Italian.