To mark International Museum Day (18 May), Professor Márcia Vilarigues, coordinator of VICARTE – Glass and Ceramic for the Arts, published an opinion piece on SAPO titled “Digitalização do Património Cultural em Portugal – o caminho para a democratização e internacionalização” (Digitalisation of Cultural Heritage in Portugal – the path to democratisation and internationalisation).

In this article, Prof. Vilarigues reflects on the strategic importance of cultural heritage digitalisation as a means to preserve, disseminate, and democratise access to cultural assets. The piece focuses on the ongoing national project “Património Cultural 360º”, funded by the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), which aims to digitise the collections of 65 museums, monuments, and archaeological sites across Portugal and make them freely accessible online.

The article highlights the key technical, logistical, and human challenges of a project of this scale, including the complexity and diversity of the objects, the integration of digital platforms, and the need for continuous training of heritage professionals. Yet, it also underscores the vast potential of digitalisation for scientific research, education, and public engagement.

The NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT) plays a central role in this national initiative, through a collaboration between the Department of Conservation and Restoration (DCR) and the Department of Informatics (DI), with the involvement of VICARTE and NOVA LINCS. Prof. Márcia Vilarigues (DCR/VICARTE) and Prof. Nuno Correia (DI/NOVA LINCS) co-coordinate the project.

VICARTE’s contribution focuses on ensuring appropriate conservation approaches and historical material modelling, while DI leads the development of advanced 3D scanning and modelling technologies, ensuring high-fidelity digital representations of cultural objects and spaces.

“We are helping to build a sustainable and accessible digital cultural legacy that aligns with the goals of the PRR and the needs of contemporary society,” writes Vilarigues.

This initiative reflects VICARTE’s commitment to combining science, art, and technology in the service of cultural heritage preservation and public access. It is also aligned with recent European projects such as DigitalTwins4SmartTerritories (DT4ST), which will further expand the application of digital technologies in the cultural sector.

🔗 Read the full opinion piece (in Portuguese):
https://www.sapo.pt/opiniao/artigos/digitalizacao-do-patrimonio-cultural-em-portugal-o-caminho-para-a-democratizacao-e-internacionalizacao

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