Last Tuesday, May 21, the final multiplier event was held at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, under the patronage of ICOM Italia. This gathering marked the conclusion of the “DCBox – Digital Curator Training & Tool Box” project, an initiative that saw the collaboration of seven partners from five different European Union countries: Italy, Spain, Portugal, Serbia, and Cyprus. The partners included four universities, a research center, an academic network, and a private IT enterprise. 

The Importance of Digital Strategies 

During the event, emphasis was placed on the development of digital strategies, a key element influencing the entire museum ecosystem. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a lack of dedicated professionals and specific learning paths, especially at the higher education level. In this context, the DCBox project aimed to address this gap by creating an innovative training path for the emerging figure of the Digital Curator. 

The DCBox Project 

The main objective of the DCBox project was to investigate the role of the Digital Curator, a new and significant profession that has become essential due to the growing need for digital, smart, and connected cultural offerings, both for on-site and online museum visits. However, there is currently no universally accepted reference framework defining the skills and competencies a Digital Curator should possess. The project’s results highlight an evolving landscape and call for ongoing commitment from universities and museums to develop effective and sustainable solutions to ensure heritage knowledge and dissemination. 

Event Objectives 

The event’s primary objectives were the exchange of knowledge, lessons learned, and best practices on how to enhance the professional role of the Digital Curator with an innovative, cross-cutting, and collaborative approach. Additionally, it provided an opportunity to discuss how to better connect academia and cultural institutions through a digital approach. Another fundamental objective was to expand the network of stakeholders potentially interested in the DCBox project, persuading them to follow up on project activities or engage with individual partners. 

A Special Thank You to the partners and speakers 

The event garnered significant interest among academic and research staff, museum professionals, cultural technology experts, and specialists in digitalization and virtual reality for cultural enhancement, as well as students and anyone interested in exploring the opportunities digitalization offers for cultural enhancement. A heartfelt thank you goes to all the speakers, the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma for hosting us, the researchers who demonstrated the VR headsets, and the catering team for the splendid buffet. 

• You can check the list of partners at this link. 

Future perspectives: Looking Ahead 

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the success of this event. We will continue to work together for a digital future in the world of culture. The event represented not only the conclusion of a project but also the beginning of new collaborations and initiatives that promise to further enrich the European cultural and academic landscape.