Editorial: Museums on the Web

Internet Histories, vol. 8, pp. 1–8

Abstract

The Special Issue 'Museums on the Web: Exploring the Past for the Future' offers new perspectives on the histories of museums on the web and aims to provide a wide range of (inter)disciplinary perspectives, including from museology, history, computer science, and others.Many of the articles offer interdisciplinary approaches, as we welcomed authors to select and mix methodologies and resources as they see fit, including both traditional and web-archival resources.We have also endeavored to balance insights from academics, curators, and museum professionals.It was essential for us to present a range of voices to offer fresh and new perspectives on the histories of 'Museums on the Web.'At the time the call for this Special Issue was developed, there was a common concern among museums to reflect on their online presence.Due to lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic, museums intensified their digital activities, highlighting the importance of the web for engaging with audiences.Furthermore, in the fast-changing digital landscape, museums encountered new challenges, such as the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the metaverse, and the semantic web.The pressing need for digital transformation was keenly felt throughout the sector, and simultaneously, there was momentum for a re-examination of "Museums on the Web."The call also coincided with the 25th anniversary of MuseWeb (formerly "Museums on the Web"), a leading international research program that advances research within digital heritage practice.This offered an opportunity to reach out to the field with the request to assess the progress made so far and to highlight especially those (unfolding) moments that may inspire future developments.By engaging with the past, we can enhance our understanding of how museums are functioning today and offer new perspectives for the future.This Special Issue covers both foundational work by early internet pioneers, as well as the ruptures and continuities throughout the history of museums on the web.It provides valuable insights into how museums have responded to emerging technologies over time and operated in an ever-evolving digital landscape.These insights can serve as vantage points for new, innovative approaches.

Authors 2

1. Karin de Wild corresponding Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   LUCAS, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands

2. Nadezhda Povroznik

   Technische Universität Darmstadt

   Affiliation as printed

   HDSM, Institute for History, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany