Abstract

Today, digital technologies are encroaching on all areas of cultural life, including museums. The fast-paced development of digital technologies, including digital three-dimensional (3D) imaging and manufacturing technologies, and the perceived dichotomy between material artefacts and digital data pose a challenge to museums. How can digital strategies be developed and implemented in the museum realm? In the twentieth century, museums have increasingly begun working with artists and other creative people to make new work inspired by their collections or as guest curators. Science and history museums, as well as other heritage institutions from a non-art background, have now taken up collaborations with artists. Artist engagement in museums can be undertaken to experiment with different ways of engaging with museum collections. In this context, Open Innovation (OI) provides a framework that can be used to maximize the impact of digital technologies in museums. Through the discussion of a case study undertaken at the National Museum Cardiff, this paper presents ways in which collaboration with artists can be used as an OI model to foster innovation in museums and to promote new, digital forms of engagement with museum collections.