A global survey was conducted in 2022 with the aim of identifying what professionals in the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) expect from collection-based organisations (CBOs) and what their contribution to their preservation, management, and/or use could be. A total of 151 responses were obtained from the five UNESCO regions, the majority of whom were between 31 and 50 years of age, which is convenient when analysing the responses as they are active and belong to different creative sectors. The results are very positive, demonstrating that museum collections are didactic materials through which design students and CCI stakeholders learn to approach the past critically and creatively, create meaning, and co-create their future heritage. Likewise, the alliance of CBOs with the SDGs represents a key tool to experiment with and call for action to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda. The results enable CCIs to identify and bridge gaps in their role as creative developers, strengthening their collaboration with heritage organisations. This paper aims to show the results of the survey and the first actions aimed at developing meaningful, inclusive arts- and culture-based interventions to support sustainable development.

The digitisation of cultural heritage has transformed how GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) institutions manage and share collections. Digital catalogues are indispensable for documenting and granting public access to cultural assets. However, integrating spatial data remains challenging due to the ambiguity, uncertainty, granularity, and heterogeneity of historical data. This study addresses these issues through a case study on the Museo de América’s “Place of Provenance” data, proposing a methodology for data cleaning and evaluating geocoding accuracy using Nominatim, ArcGIS, and GeoNames APIs. We assess these APIs by quantifying geocoding errors through a “balance sheet” method, identifying instances of over-representation, under-representation, or neutral results for geographical regions. The effectiveness of each API is analysed using confusion matrices and interactive cartograms, offering insights into misallocations. Our findings reveal varying accuracy among the APIs in processing heterogeneous historical spatial data. Nominatim achieved a 40.91% neutral result in correctly geocoding countries, underscoring challenges in spatial data representation. This research provides valuable methodological experiences and insights for researchers and GLAM institutions working with cultural heritage datasets. By enhancing spatial dispersion visualisation, this work contributes to understanding cultural circulations and historical patterns. This interdisciplinary work was developed as part of the ClioViz project, integrating Data Science, data Visualisation, and art history.

A pesar de los avances científicos en la protección del patrimonio cultural (PC) frente a peligros naturales y de origen humano, como señala el informe «Strengthening Cultural Heritage Resilience for Climate Change» (2022), las estrategias de adaptación al cambio climático y reducción de riesgos no integran de manera exhaustiva la preservación del PC en los Planes Nacionales. Esta brecha persiste debido a la falta de una metodología comúnmente acordada para cuantificar y monitorear los daños y pérdidas en el patrimonio, lo que dificulta la colaboración entre equipos técnicos y el intercambio de datos. En este contexto, el proyecto ChemiNova, financiado por Horizonte Europa 2024, ofrece una solución innovadora al desarrollar un sistema computacional inteligente para la conservación y monitoreo del PC europeo. A través de tecnologías avanzadas y no invasivas, como los modelos tridimensionales enriquecidos (e3D), ChemiNova integra datos espaciales, espectrales y temporales, mientras involucra a las comunidades locales en prácticas de conservación y sensibilización. ChemiNova pretende crear un sistema informático avanzado que supere las tecnologías existentes para mejorar la conservación, el análisis y la supervisión del PC. Utilizando diversos tipos de datos, el proyecto se centra en los daños estructurales y químicos que sufren los bienes culturales, con especial atención a dos grandes amenazas de origen humano: el cambio climático y los conflictos armados, enfatizando el caso ucraniano gracias a la incorporación del conjunto de Santa Sofía de Kiev, sitio patrimonio mundial por la UNESCO, como socios del consorcio ChemiNova.

Cultural heritage is increasingly exposed to the growing intensity and frequency of extreme climate events, highlighting the need for integrated methodologies that combine large-scale risk assessment with real-time diagnostic tools [1]. In this context, the Horizon Europe project ChemiNova [2] develops an advanced framework for cultural heritage inspection and condition reporting, while the methodology implemented in the Interreg Central Europe projects ProteCHt2save and STRENCH provides a structured approach to risk assessment and preparedness through the WebGIS-based platform “Risk Mapping Tool for Cultural for Cultural Heritage Protection” [3]. This study illustrates the synergy between these two complementary approaches. The Risk Mapping Tool supports the identification of hazard, vulnerability, and exposure assessment at territorial scale, enabling the prioritization of cultural assets at risk. In parallel, ChemiNova focuses on in-depth analysis through multi-scale monitoring (artefacts, buildings, monuments) and the development of standardized condition reports [4], integrating non-invasive diagnostic techniques and artificial intelligence for automatic detection and damage classification.The integration of these methodologies is demonstrated through two complementary pilot contexts characterised by high climate vulnerability. The first case concerns the catastrophic DANA (Isolated High-Altitude Depression) event in the Valencia region occurred on October 29 2024, where extreme rainfall induced flooding, sediment deposition, and material degradation. In this context, the Risk Mapping Tool provides a spatial understanding of exposure and vulnerability, supporting the identification of priority intervention areas. Concurrently, ChemiNova tools enable detailed post-event condition assessment, including evaluation of material decay, moisture distribution, and structural stability, supporting evidence-based decision-making during emergency and recovery phases.The second case study focuses on the Palchetto della Musica in Palermo, a coastal monument located in a Mediterranean area highly exposed to extreme weather conditions. Here, the combination of climate-related hazard mapping and condition reporting allows the identification of specific vulnerabilities linked to heavy rainfall, marine aerosol, and pollution. Advanced documentation techniques, including 3D models in which data obtained from hyperspectral imaging and surface analysis are mapped in layers, contribute to defining a consistent damage taxonomy and to generating datasets for AI-based classification tools developed within ChemiNova.The results highlight how the synergy between large-scale risk assessment (Risk Mapping Tool) and site-specific analytical investigation represents a crucial step towards a dynamic and resilient management of cultural heritage. This integrated approach supports the transition from static preparedness models to adaptive, data-driven strategies capable of responding effectively to the rapid onset and increasing severity of climate-induced hazards. Ultimately, the combined use of ProteCHt2save-STRENCH and ChemiNova methodologies demonstrates a scalable framework for strengthening heritage resilience across Europe, fostering coordination between strategic planning and operational intervention.[1] European Commission Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture. Strengthening Cultural Heritage Resilience for Climate Change: Where the European Green Deal Meets Cultural Heritage; Publications Office of the European Union: Luxembourg, 2022; Available online: https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2766/44688;[2] https://cheminova.eu/[3] www.protecht2save-wgt.eu[4] EN17135:2020, “Conservation of cultural heritage – General terms for describing the alterations of objects”ChemiNova has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme under grant agreement 101132442. Palchetto della Musica is owned by Ufficio Città Storica of Municipality of Palermo.