Content Data Object

About the Project

This project aims to articulate ways in which museum practice and international cultural property law could adapt to accommodate and enable meaningful access to conceptual, ephemeral and immaterial digital artworks.

Context

The V&A collects digital works in a wider variety of forms than any other cultural institution in the UK. Such collections and the challenge they present have been the subject of debate internationally, though solutions for cataloging and preserving them are still somewhat experimental. Looking closely at the production and reception of such works, this project aims to find descriptive forms appropriate to collections management for the multiple dimensions, including time and experience, that they encompass.

Aim

This project seeks to; explore the scope of intellectual property inherent in the description and cataloging of conceptual digital works; problematise the distinction between tangible and intangible heritage and explore how artistic intention and audience experience are incorporated into collections management terms.

Outcomes

A series of expert workshops involving museum practitioners, information technologists, artists, digital media theorists, collection managers, conservators and curators will discuss concepts around digital collections to inform policies and protocols which adequately encompass digital collections, overcoming some knotty problems of access, interpretation and even definition.