Open Heritage A Vision for Participatory Cultural Engagement

Open Heritage A Vision for Participatory Cultural Engagement Alex Benay Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation December, 2015

Who we are… CANADA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MUSEUMS CORPORATION 2

Traditional stewardship of knowledge is breaking down > Historically, museums have provided “expert” interpretation of public history > Traditional institutional authority is challenged > Digital disruption and social media have transformed expectations 3

Changing Expectations > Citizens now expect participation and engagement > External engagement is driving new information management requirements > Customers and partners becoming part of content ecosystem > Demand for direct access > Mobile access: anytime, anywhere 4

Priority: Digital Citizenship A realisation that institutions must work with the world around them A conscious decision to be relevant to and engage with constituents Shared authority A bias toward action 5

Participatory Heritage > Digital provides the opportunity to create a new type of heritage mandate: participatory heritage > Engagement of citizens > Shared authority > Crowdsourcing > Multiple voices 6

Delivering on our Mandate “To foster scientific and technological literacy throughout Canada by establishing, maintaining, and developing a collection of scientific and technological objects, with special but not exclusive reference to Canada, and by demonstrating the products and processes of science and technology and their economic, social and cultural relationships with society. ” Vision To inspire Canadians to celebrate and engage with their scientific, technological and innovative past, present and future > Engagement is central to our vision to deliver on our mandate > We engage through Participatory Heritage 7

CSTMC’s Open Heritage Vision > Global leader in participatory heritage > Committed to the Government of Canada's agenda for openness and transparency > Provide open access to research and information assets, in keeping with its mandate to develop a national collection and foster knowledge > Provide access to the knowledge we hold in trust for all Canadians > Share information holdings on the principle of "open by default" 8

Leader in Open Heritage > First national museum to release collection data as open data, engage in national hackathons > Library and archival records online and syndicated in “World. Cat” > Crowdsourcing Innovation Canada 150 digital storybook of Canadian innovation > Leading in participatory engagement > Curators and educators bringing classrooms into the collection via digital technology > Part of the Maker Movement > Actively participating in “doors open” 9

Open Heritage > Open Heritage is a key aspect of how we are tackling Digital Citizenship 10

Open Heritage User Stories > Researcher > As a student researcher, I can find the story behind a museum acquisition, providing unique insights for my research thesis. > Curious Canadian > As a Curious Canadian, I can discover the internal information holdings of the museum, allowing me to dig deep into my passion for technology. > Teacher > As a teacher, I can discover educational resources that are under development, so I can contact the museum and help shape what will be of value for my classroom. > Exhibition Professional > As an exhibit planner, I can see the projects the museum is working on, so I can plan early to bring the exhibition to my science centre. 11

Open Heritage Strategy > Sharing authority: real-time planning and participation by staff with Canadians across Canada > Stronger execution via national partnership, not in isolation > Developing a culture of engagement by all staff at CSTMC > Amplifying a “get things done” mindset 12

Digital Transformation: Foundation for Executing Open Heritage Strategy > Continue to develop and nurture a digital culture > Relevance: connect with human stories > Engage in today’s world > Empower innovation > National partnerships > Agile execution > Robust platforms > Acceptance of failure / small bets 13

Execution Tactics > Portal providing access to knowledge assets > Explore shared cloud-based portal with partners > Leveraging technologies already in place at CSTMC > Information Management foundation (CSTMC’s robust implementation of GC Docs - Go. C standard IM platform) > Digital Asset Management > Build on and expand network of partnerships 14

Wrap up slide > What idea do we leave people with? > Participatory heritage is…. 15

Thank You. Alex Benay Chief Executive Officer Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation abenay@technomuses. ca @Alex. Benay