The European Politics For The Digitalization Of Culture In Bulgaria
The cultural heritage of each country constitutes salient feature which form and define not only the origin but also the future. Nevertheless, traversing the century of technology and digitalization of every sector, there are countries which tend to forget their origin and heritage, consciously or not. Therefore, is highly generation but also protect her against wear and impart her in the future.
Bulgaria is sensitized in the topic of culture, so, we are working in the direction of European Union following and applying the European politics for the digitalization of culture. On our priorities is ,mainly, the digitalization of the valuable collections of the national libraries and museums in open information space and provide easy access to it .The European program “Europeanna” recognize Regional Library in Varna as the largest multidisciplinary data aggregator in Bulgaria .We are running out the BG08 program “cultural heritage and contemporary arts” financed by European Economic Area with the budget of 2.935.000euro to convert objects of cultural value in digital format and found digital cultural heritage institutes. Under the aegis of program “Europeanna”, National Library has digitalized approximately 3900 documents and provide public access in all the digitalized items through the website.
The Bulgarian content in Europeana is between 50.000-100.000 materials which is approximately 2 % from the total digital content. The original target for Bulgaria according to Europian Commission (11.10.2011) was Bulgaria to contribute in Europeanna approximately 267.000 cultural objects. However ,we have to mention that in cultural issues important laws and international convetions have been voted and applied as for example The Framework Convention of the Council of Europe for the Significance of the Cultural Heritage to the Society is signed by Bulgarian party in 27.10.2005. But, according to CD-ETA Interreg Europe ,Bulgaria has no a digitization strategy in the field of cultural heritage ,single information system and museum software for the control and inventory of collections and items. Additionally, a research made by Bulgarian Library – Information Association states that only ¼ of the libraries are in the process of digitalization while concurrently National register of digitized library objects and national coordination of digitization process.
Furthermore, the evidences from the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria show than ,in 2017, from the whole 191 museums only 79 dispose computers for visitors ,for info purposes or interactive galleries and 126 out of 191 have web-site .So, there is a need for improvement in this area.. Undeniably, a great effort must be made for the completion of the digitalization of cultural heritage. The delegation of Bulgaria suggests the European commission design evaluation criteria for the websites of museums with the purpose of control the usability, functionality, and thoroughness depending on the content of the museum.
This can happen via electronic questionnaires or via data recording of each website. Another possible solution is the use of latest technologies (2D, 3D, and UV scanners) combined with the knowledge of conservators of antiquities for a clear representation of the current situation of the monuments and cultural goods with the purpose of definite and design the mode of action for their protection. The technological institutes of each country can provide this expertise. With the contribution of digital technologies, we can accomplish the virtual representation of the artworks, observe and document their conservation status and even restore their original form. This form should be open to the public so the complete image of their shape in the past can be valued. Besides, the interdisciplinary approach is in accord with the Code of Conduct on Maintenance (ICOMOS, 2003).
We also encourage the creation of digital application and games which make the learning of culture more interactive and interesting. The European Institute of Innovation and Technologies can finance companies of programming to create applications and online games with technologies of augmenting and mixed reality ensuring the interoperability of cultural reserve created with the European Library Culture (Europeana). Bulgaria also suggests the clear emblazonment of the danger for the cultural heritage (from the time, the weather phenomena, and the exploitation), the creation of protection plan and the dissemination of this plan to the general plan for awareness.
The CIPA Heritage Documentation (international scientific committee) can help by encouraging and promoting the development of principles and good practices for recording, documentation and management information on Cultural Heritage, Advising government authorities, granting an international network of experts from both fields of Technology and Cultural Heritage, both for scientific research as well as applied actions for each country. To conclude, we all believe that the advent of the digital age has a huge impact on the cultural creation, dissemination, access and consumption of cultural goods. This development offers significant growth opportunities. For the cultural and creative sector to take advantage of these opportunities, stakeholders and individuals should develop new skills that will allow them to use new production and distribution methods and new business models.
