Keynote for the Museum Council of Iceland Symposium 26 November 2018 Safnahúsið, Reykjavík https://safnarad.is/english/

1. WHAT’S THE
SOCIAL
IMPACT
slideshare.net/meretesanderhoff
@msanderhoff
Museum Council Symposium
Safnahúsið, Reykjavík, 26 October 2018
OF
DIGITISING
MUSEUMS?

2. Art historian
Curator and advisor in digital museum practice
Chair of Europeana Network Association
Initiator of Sharing is Caring
What’s the social impact of culture?

3. National Gallery of Denmark
Western art from 1300 to present day
400,000 visitors a year
260,000 artworks
66 % in public domain
30 % digitised

4. We want to be a catalyst
of users’ creativity
SMK’s first digital strategy
2009

5. smk.dk/en/article/smk-open/

6. 2016-2020
We open up SMK’s digitised
collections and knowledge
for all to use and enjoy
smk.dk/en/article/smk-open/

7. smk.dk/en/article/free-download-of-images/

8. The images belong to all.
You have the right to use them
for learning, play, creativity, research,
innovation, commercial purposes etc.
PUBLIC DOMAIN

10. Democratisation

11. smk.dk/en/section/about-smk/

12. “Being the national gallery and main
art museum in Denmark , SMK carries an important
responsibility towards the entire country and beyond.
The vast collection of 700 years of art is common
national property and ideally, everyone who lives in
Denmark share a sense of ownership to this unique
cultural heritage.
“

13. “Our work is based on the conviction that the artworks
in our rich collection has a role to play in the society
that surrounds us, through its ability to deepen our
understanding of the world, its peoples and histories.
We believe that the development museums have
undergone in the past decades holds the key to engage far
more, and more different people than we reach today.
“

14. SMK for all?

15. 51 % of the Danes think we should spend ’less’ or
’considerably less’ money on cultural institutions
Megafon for Politiken, Nov. 2015

16. Cultural sector under pressure

17. 30 %
15 %
8 %
20 %

18. “Few politicians earnestly believe
that culture can be an economic investment
that acts as a catalyst for growth.
In most people’s opinion, culture is nothing more
than an expense which we can chose to prioritise
if we think that art and culture contribute
something of significance to society.
“rasmussenmarker.dk/den-kulturpolitiske-bermudatrekant/

19. “Caring for cultural heritage used to be a
governmental, political task, but is slowly
eliminated from governmental obligations without
any politicians wavering. I’m concerned that what
is missing are powerful arguments explaining why
culture is a basic value supporting our society.
“
Mikkel Bogh, director of SMK
Politiken, April 2018

20. “I think it’s important to do more research into the effects
of art and culture. How does it influence our education, our
development of competencies, and our personal growth to
have access to culture? I think people need to be told that
culture has a utility value for their personal wellbeing and
development, ultimately also for the economic
bottom line of our society.
“
Mogens Jensen,
Cultural rapporteur, Danish Social Democrats
August 2018

21. How does digitised cultural heritage
contribute to personal wellbeing
and societal development?

22. How can we measure such things?

23. ?

24. Measure what is important,
don’t make important
what you can measure
Robert McNamara

26. Theoretical base

27. What is impact?
Changes that occur for stakeholders in society,
as a result of activities for which the organisation is accountable.

28. Tools

29. Impact areas

30. Impact lenses

31. Empathy map

32. Change pathway

33. SMK Open is a partner in
the Europeana Impact Playbook
- we’re a member of the Task Force
- we contribute case studies

34. Kickoff 2017
Impact design workshop
Europeana and SMK in partnership
Principal priorities and decisions

35. Impact area Social-cultural
Impact lenses Utility, Community
SMK Open

36. Impact statements
Utility
Users feel empowered by access to our digitised collections
They engage with them for learning, knowledge sharing, creativity, and pleasure
Community
Users feel connected to art and to SMK
They participate in an open dialogue about art, and what it means to them

37. Primary target groups
School teachers
Educational use of SMK art and knowledge in schools around the country
Young creatives
SMK open collections as a toolbox for DIY creativity

38. An impact testbed

39. ULK + SMK Open
Young People’s Art Labs at the Young People’s Meeting
September 2018

40. Taboo workshop
Make the invisible visible
Use open art as a stepping stone to
break taboos about mental and physical vulnerability
Open up dialogue, understanding and possible healing
by means of artistic co-creation

43. Testing the workshop format
with stakeholders

44. 6-8 Sept 2018
Young People’s Meeting
35,000 participants
“Through participation, dialogue and community
young people explore democratic engagement and citizenship“

45. ULK + SMK Open
at UFM’18

46. Partners
and facilitators

47. >100 participants
school kids aged 15-19

48. Testimonies of young people
with mental or physical vulnerabilities
audio track

49. Workshop focus on dialogue,
collaboration and process

50. Qualitative interviews
by anthropologist and user experience expert

51. Indications

52. What do you think art can be used for?
It’s easier for me to express my emotions
through images or drawings, because then I
don’t have to explain everything. And then
other people can make their own sense of it
and relate to it in their own way.

53. It’s strange in a way, because those old
artworks have always felt like they were
sacred almost. But I think it’s a good idea
that everyone is allowed to see the artworks
even if they don’t feel like or have time to
visit the museum.
What does it mean when art is digitised
and made freely available?

54. It’s like art changes character when
you can touch it with your own
hands. You’re able to look at it up
close. It means a lot to be able to
hold the art between your hands
and touch it.

55. It’s awesome that we can use these artworks that were
once created and preserved, and make something new
out of them, make them our own, so to speak. That way,
you can bring something old with you into the new.

56. Challenges

57. Do you talk with friends or family
about art and being creative?
Not really. We’re not that creative at home.
It’s not at all something that comes up in the
conversations we have.

58. We don’t really have creative classes at school
anymore. That was more of a thing when we
were in primary and middle school. Now it’s all
about books and computers.

59. Preliminary outcomes
Free access to digital cultural heritage seems to
evoke confidence to express oneself
increase understanding of the nuances and possibilities of visual
language
make cultural heritage feel more accessible
create a sense of ownership to cultural heritage

60. Challenges to tackle
communicate how art and creativity can play a role in (young)
people’s lives
reach out and engage young people and their families in artistic,
creative experiences and activities
influence schools and politicians to prioritise creative subjects
in the education system

61. SMK Open case study
Published late 2018 on the
Europeana impact site
impkt.tools

62. Thank you.
slideshare.net/meretesanderhoff
@msanderhoff
Museum Council Symposium
Safnahúsið, Reykjavík, 26 October 2018