The pandemic has hit the cultural sector particularly hard. With an investment program, institutions from museums to libraries are now to be supported in their digitization. The first approved application came from the Dessau-Wörlitz Cultural Foundation.
Magdeburg (dpa/sa) – Selling tickets online, presenting exhibits digitally and redesigning websites: Saxony-Anhalt can advance digitization in cultural institutions with 7.2 million euros in EU funding. Many concepts for this are already available: By mid-June, the state administration office had given a positive decision for 91 applications after the preliminary examination of their concepts, as the Ministry of Culture in Magdeburg announced on request. This corresponds to a funding volume of around 6.5 million euros – projects are 100 percent funded with up to 100,000 euros. Digitization is intended to help make cultural institutions pandemic-proof.
After a successful preliminary check, applications must be submitted to the investment bank, which is responsible for the promotional business. There are already more than 60 applications, 19 applications have already been approved, further funding decisions are in preparation. Culture Minister Rainer Robra (CDU) explained: “Further concepts can still be submitted to the State Administration Office, Department of Culture. The funding volume has not yet been fully committed.” The projects must be completed by mid-June 2023.
The first approved application was for an online ticketing system for the Dessau-Wörlitz Cultural Foundation. Public libraries are supported in making lending as contact-free as possible. In addition, applications for cultural institutions have already been approved, with which exhibits or documents are to be digitized and made publicly accessible on the institution’s website. These included the city archives of Magdeburg and the art museum Kloster Unser Lieben Frauen Magdeburg. Websites can also be relaunched with the funding. In addition, institutions are supported when they develop digitally accessible explanations for exhibitions.
Minister of Culture Robra said: “The pandemic has shown us how important digitization is in all areas, but also in culture in particular.” At the same time, it has greatly accelerated digitization processes.
