Digital Heritage Hub launches to support heritage sector

A new online resource for has been launched for the heritage sector to help small- to medium-sized organisations learn new digital skills, improve their digital output, and build confidence in their approach, without impacting their time or resource.  

The Digital Heritage Hub, which is free to access, aims to answer one hundred of the sector’s most pressing and frequently asked digital questions across four themes.  

Each theme begins with an overview of what is covered and is home to a variety of content, including articles, videos, and podcasts that can help in that area.  

Heritage Digital itself has contributed several resources to the Hub, including a video on how to create content for hybrid events, a podcast about producing a podcast on a shoestring, and written articles teaching readers how to create and implement a digital strategy.  

The themes are: 

• Digital engagement and activities 
• Finding, creating, sharing, and archiving digital content 
• Digital leadership and organisational development 
• Business models and recovery planning 

For example, “Digital engagement and activities” covers advice on digital marketing and communications, websites, email, social media, online events and activities, analytics, visitor data, segmentation, and much more.  

The site also offers heritage organisations free online masterclasses, such as one on how to update your digital strategy. 

With heritage organisations facing financial insecurity following the pandemic, being able to use digital technology is crucial. It can expand reach, improve collaboration and productivity, and help with remote working when volunteers and employees are spread across different locations. It can also help with raising awareness of their cause and support fundraising efforts if the organisation is a charity.  

The Digital Heritage Hub is managed by Arts Marketing Association (AMA) in partnership with The Heritage Digital Consortium and The University of Leeds. It has received funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the National Lottery, distributed by The Heritage Fund as part of their Digital Skills for Heritage initiative. 

Cath Hume, Chief Executive of the Arts Marketing Association, said: “We want to empower organisations, give them the knowledge and the inspiration to see how beneficial digital can be, and help them find meaningful ways to apply it to their organisation’s aims. 

“A lot of small to medium organisations don’t have access to, or the means to access, professional expertise. The Digital Heritage Hub will be their free, one stop shop of the expertise they need to take the next step – or even the first step – in their digital journey.”