Virtual museum infrastructure: support for heritage engagement and sustainable development

Often digital exhibits are special, often commissioned from specialist organisations for a premium price and only available to prestigious national and international organisations that have the budget to match. Yet, development in underlying technologies, mean commodity computers, mobiles, and networks are increasingly capable. Consequently, the possibility of immersive and mobile technologies being practical alternatives for community museums is becoming practical. At the same time, we are seeing increasing threats to heritage including climate, disasters and conflicts, and the need for sustainable development that is relevant to communities.

This paper explores the ways emergent immersive technologies have been used by community museums, to address different aspects of sustainable development and how two Horizon Europe projects CULTURALITY and HERITALISE will help develop tools and platforms that enable community museums to work with virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence to address the preservation and promotion of heritage and in so doing address climate action and wider sustainable development goals.