Vienna 2022: Defining Digital Transformation in Cultural Institutions
Year(s): 2022
Description:
The Museum Leadership House (MLH) Vienna 2022 was the inaugural gathering of a non-profit platform uniting museum leaders, policymakers, academics, economists, and digital experts from around the world. Its mission was to define the role of museum leadership in times of digital transformation and promote collaborative action to help museums emerge stronger from current crises.
Held in Vienna on 26–27 November 2022, the event brought together international experts for structured discussions at Rosewood Vienna and Hohe Warte 19. The programme included room conversations, presentations, and networking sessions focused on four impact topics:
Meanings — the evolving role of museums in the digital realm
Formats — museum digital content and its uses
Structures — digital transformation through leadership
Issues — emerging challenges and potential solutions
The core team included representatives from Museum Booster, the Institute for Digital Culture (University of Leicester), Europeana, ACMI, One by One, and ICOM. Together, they managed and shaped the platform’s development.
Confirmed MLH members represented leading institutions such as the Science Museum London, Tate, Centre Pompidou, Smithsonian Institution, Oakland Museum of California, Ars Electronica Centre, Biotopia Naturkundemuseum Bayern, Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, and others.
Output:
The Vienna 2022 edition of the Museum Leadership House established the foundation for a continuing international platform on museum leadership and digital transformation. It produced:
A global peer network of senior museum professionals and experts
A shared agenda for redefining museum leadership and governance in the digital age
Strategic insights into digital management, institutional agility, and audience relevance
Recommendations and principles guiding future editions and the evolution of the MLH community
Client/Partner:
Museum Booster (initiator) in partnership with Institute for Digital Culture (University of Leicester), Europeana, ACMI, One by One, and ICOM, with participation from global museum and cultural leaders.
Partners:
