Digital Engagement at the Nordiska museet

#heritageCRExperiencing the Digital World: The Cultural Value of

Digital Engagement With HeritageLeeds University, May 9, 2014

Founded in 1873Nordiska museet

Photo: cwasteson, Flickr, CC-BY, http://www.flickr.com/photos/wastes/5117925636

Sweden's largest museum of cultural history

@kajsahartig

Digital Navigator

New Media Strategy 2010

> Interaction> Communication> Co-creation

Benefits of Digital

> Connecting with new audiences

> Engaging with new audiences

> Learning about our audiences

> Providing access to collections

> A place to experiment

…and also…

> Education

> Entertainment

> Participation

> Repatriation

> Democracy

> Internal benefits

> Awareness

> Empowering

Online collections

Staff engaging in social media

Outreach with mobile content

Participation online

Participation on site

Participation on site

Creating awareness through social media

?

Are we successful?

Statistics

Anecdotal information

Indications

The Nordiska museet

Next step?

Learn what to measure and how in terms of sustainable impact

Better understand the real value and impact of our digital efforts

Better communicate our efforts and success stories to stakeholders

Critical Review: Initial findings

Experiencing the Digital

World: The Cultural Value

of Digital Engagement

With Heritage

Some thoughts

1. Social digital is still new

2. Different objects have different

value to different people

3. Analogue vs. Digital?

Yes but not always

4. Technology as a distracting filter,

yes but not for long

5. Museums need to learn how to

measure & communicate impact

1. Social digital is still new

2. Different objects have different

value to different people

3. Analogue vs. Digital?

Yes but not always

4. Technology as a distracting filter,

yes but not for long

5. Museums need to learn how to

measure & communicate impact

1. Social digital is still new

2. Different objects have different

value to different people

3. Analogue vs. Digital?

Yes but not always

4. Technology as a distracting filter,

yes but not for long

5. Museums need to learn how to

measure & communicate impact

1. Social digital is still new

2. Different objects have different

value to different people

3. Analogue vs. Digital?

Yes but not always

4. Technology as a distracting filter,

yes but not for long

5. Museums need to learn how to

measure & communicate impact

1. Social digital is still new

2. Different objects have different

value to different people

3. Analogue vs. Digital?

Yes but not always

4. Technology as a distracting filter,

yes but not for long

5. Museums need to learn how to

measure & communicate impact

Some possible issues that could prevent museums from using digital for engagement

• Fear of loosing authority

• Fear of popularizing museum collections

• Not sure of the actual value and benefits

• Lack of funding

• Lack of ability to transform the museum

into digital thinking

• Old museum practices in use

• We know we can’t do it well so we

hesitate

• Requires new expertise

• Rigid structures, lack of flexibility 

Thank you!

Kajsa HartigDigital NavigatorDepartment of New MediaNordiska museet, Stockholm, Sweden