From 26–29 May 2026, MusicSphere project participated in the DARIAH Annual Event 2026 in Rome, Italy, one of the leading European gatherings dedicated to Digital Arts and Humanities.
Organized by DARIAH (The Digital Research Infrastructure for the Arts and Humanities) and hosted by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), this year’s event explored the theme:
“Digital Arts and Humanities with and for Society: Building Infrastructures of Engagement.”
The event brought together researchers, cultural heritage professionals, memory institutions, digital infrastructures, policymakers, and innovation projects to discuss how collaborative and sustainable digital ecosystems can support the future of arts, humanities, and cultural heritage across Europe.
Exploring New Models of Collaboration
MusicSphere and EXCALIBUR were presented during the session:
“New Models of Collaboration Across Academia, Memory Institutions, and Society” chaired by Adeline Joffres (MSH Val de Loire / CNRS).
Within this session, MusicSphere project coordinators and researchers from the Information Technologies Institute (ITI) of the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Eleftherios Anastasovitis, Georgia Georgiou, Spiros Nikolopoulos, and Ioannis Kompatsiaris, presented:
“Multi-functional Digital Solutions for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage: Paradigms of Innovation for Strengthening the Cultural Heritage Cloud Capacity.”
The presentation showcased both MusicSphere and EXCALIBUR as innovative initiatives contributing to the development of the European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage (ECCCH) and supporting the broader vision of a connected and sustainable European cultural heritage ecosystem.
Supporting the European Cultural Heritage Cloud
The presentation focused on how both projects are developing open-source, cost-affordable, and sustainable digital solutions aligned with the requirements and framework of the ECCCH.
Through different technological approaches and use cases, MusicSphere and EXCALIBUR demonstrate how digital infrastructures can support the long-term preservation, accessibility, interoperability, and reuse of cultural heritage resources.
The projects illustrate how multi-functional digital knowledge infrastructures can strengthen cultural heritage resilience by combining advanced technologies, data-driven insights, and end-user-centred design within a cohesive and collaborative ecosystem.
Building Resilient Cultural Heritage Infrastructures
A central message of the presentation was that the resilience of cultural heritage infrastructures depends on much more than technological robustness alone.
Long-term sustainability requires:
- Interoperable systems and open standards;
- Jointly developed scientific knowledge;
- Collaboration across disciplines and institutions;
- Participatory stewardship involving heritage communities and stakeholders;
- Accessible and reusable digital resources;
- Sustainable governance and knowledge-sharing mechanisms.s.
By embracing these principles, initiatives such as MusicSphere contribute to building digital ecosystems capable of preserving and enhancing access to cultural heritage for future generations.
Advancing Innovation Through Collaboration
The session provided an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences and perspectives with representatives from research infrastructures, cultural heritage institutions, universities, and innovation projects working across Europe.
Discussions highlighted the growing importance of collaborative approaches that connect academia, memory institutions, public organisations, private stakeholders, and society in order to maximise the impact of digital technologies in the cultural heritage domain.