THE ROLE OF PUBLIC POLICY IN ENSURING ACCESS TO CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE ERA OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

B a c k g r o u n d . With the growth of cultural heritage and its digital representation, governments around the world are forced to develop effective strategies for preserving and accessing cultural heritage. One of the ways to ensure access to cultural heritage in the era of digital transformation is to create digital resources available online. However, the creation of digital resources is not enough to ensure access to cultural heritage. The state should develop a policy that will ensure not only the creation of digital resources but also their preservation, promotion and accessibility for different social groups. It is important to develop digital literacy tools for different social groups and provide adequate resources for the preservation and processing of digital cultural heritage. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the role of public policy in ensuring access to cultural heritage in the era of digital transformation. The study set the following objectives: (1) to analyses the current state of access to cultural heritage in the era of digital transformation in different countries of the world; (2) to study the role of public policy in ensuring access to cultural heritage in the era of digital transformation in different countries of the world; to identify effective methods and tools used by states to ensure access to cultural heritage in the era of digital transformation; (3) to analyses the impact of digital transformation on the preservation and access to cultural heritage; (4) to provide recommendations for the development of a new digital heritage policy. M e t h o d s . In order to achieve the research objective, the following methods were used in the process: (1) abstract and logical – to analyses sources and draw conclusions; (2) analysis of public policy and legislation – this method consists in studying public policy that regulates access to cultural heritage in the era of digital transformation, as well as studying the legislative acts that regulate this process; (3) analysis of existing practices of access to cultural heritage – this method involves the study of the experience of using digital technologies to provide access to cultural heritage in different countries and regions of the world; (4) comparative analysis – to compare the factors, methods and tools of public policies of different countries that regulate access to cultural heritage; (5) empirical method – to highlight the experience of individual countries in ensuring access to cultural heritage through the implementation of digital processes. R e s u l t s . The author analyses the national policies of democratic countries. It has been determined that they should reflect the changing conditions of cultural heritage protection and access in the era of digital transformation. To do this, it is necessary to constantly update and adapt legislation in this area, develop new methods of protection and access to cultural heritage, and focus on the development of new technologies for preserving and presenting cultural heritage in a new way. Priority should be given to the development and implementation of digital platforms to provide access to cultural heritage in various forms, including virtual reality and interactive applications. In addition, it is important to develop international cooperation in this area, especially for the joint implementation of technical solutions for the protection of and access to cultural heritage. These measures will help preserve and enrich the cultural heritage of humanity and make it more accessible to the public. С o n c l u s i o n s . It has been determined that the digitalisation of cultural heritage is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and that the preservation of cultural heritage should respect the diversity of cultural practices and traditions. Therefore, it is important to work with communities and involve them in the process of digitalizing cultural heritage to ensure that their cultural practices and traditions are accurately represented and preserved for future generations.