Anniversary: 25 Years of Digital Transformation with DEN

From Digital Card Index to Integrated Approach

“Digital transformation, what is that?” There are still people who wonder, but 25 years ago, no one had even heard of it. Back then, we were primarily concerned with digitally storing analog material. Also known as the card index operation.

That is still an important foundation! By bringing culture and heritage into the digital domain, you open doors for renewed appreciation, experience, and creation. Yet time has not stood still. Digitizing material gave way to digitizing processes. Not only digital collection formation but also the collaboration of organizations in digital infrastructures became important.

We as people and as a sector have started working differently: more innovatively, more flexibly, and without borders. Computers, smartphones, and fast connections brought us into contact with new people worldwide. We learned from each other, linked collections via Linked Open Data. And increasingly, we are becoming part of one network. Our audience is also changing. They quickly adopt digital possibilities and take advantage of all online conveniences.

What is the role of culture in this? That is the central question DEN is now asking: how can cultural organizations adapt to digital developments to continue finding, engaging, and captivating their audience? And what does that mean for the organization?

This is Digital Transformation.

Digital transformation is a fundamental change in all parts of your organization, where the audience is central, new value creation is the goal, and this is achieved by fully utilizing digital possibilities.

Due to the increasing digitization in society and the influences this has on the audience and the working methods of cultural organizations, our role and supportive task have fundamentally changed. Setting the agenda and driving digital transformation in the cultural sector is now our priority. DEN's activities align with organizations like Netwerk Digitaal Erfgoed (NDE) (opens in new tab), podiumkunst.net (opens in new tab), and NADD (opens in new tab), which focus specifically on the preservation and accessibility of collections.

We are proud that as DEN, we have been committed to a thriving cultural sector for 25 years. Despite our changed role and positioning, one thing remains constant: the power of culture, by everyone and for everyone. We are happy to dedicate ourselves to this, together with you. Because together, we reach the audience of the future. Will you join us on this journey?