Path: Home | Publications | Dynamic Action Plan

Dynamic Action Plan for the EU co-ordination of digitisationof cultural and scientific content

Minister for Culture, David Lammy, launched in Bristol on 15th November 2005, a new action plan to make Europe's cultural heritage more accessible through the Internet.

Speaking after a conference in Bristol on eLearning, and after Monday's Ministerial Council in Brussels chaired by Secretary of State for Culture, Tessa Jowell and where digitisation was high on the agenda, David Lammy said:
"Europe's cultural resources are a unique public asset forming the collective and evolving memory of our diverse societies. Today we have looked closely at the connections between the digitisation of these resources and learning. We have seen examples of developments in the UK, as well as those from across Europe and looked at some of the issues involved in the provision of eLearning materials. We must now seize the opportunities created by the internet and by digitization to increase access for everyone to our cultural treasures".

One of the DCMS priorities for the UK Presidency is the development of a new action plan for the digitisation of the cultural heritage. The plan is the result of work by the Netherlands, Luxembourg and UK Presidencies, and represents a major landmark in collaborative working by European Member States in the cultural and heritage fields. The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) represented the UK in the development of the plan.

David Dawson, Head of Digital Futures at MLA commented:"The action plan sets out a programme that will be of great importance in providing rich and diverse digital resources that support education, tourism and the creative industries. The end result will be that all citizens will have access to the digital cultural heritage of Europe."

The Action Plan outlines six objectives that will be pursued through the plan:

• Providing strategic leadership in a dynamic and changing environment in which rapid technological and economical developments are taking place.
• Strengthening co-ordination and forging stronger links between Member States' digitisation initiatives, EU networks and projects.
• Continuing efforts in overcoming fragmentation and duplication of digitisation activities and maximising synergy.
• Assessing and identifying appropriate models, funding and policy approaches to sustain development and long-term preservation strategies.
• Promoting cultural and linguistic diversity through digital content creatio
• Improving online access to European cultural content.

Paul Barnett, Head of Cultural Services for Bristol City Council, commented: "Digitisation of cultural resources is vital for providing improved access for everyone. Bristol and the south-west are now renowned for their strong, and often, leading roles in the digital and creative industries and we are delighted that the DCMS and MLA have decided to bring these conferences to the Watershed Media Centre in Bristol."