“The common challenges for Hanoi institutions – and we believe for other institutions across the country as well – are a lack of human resources in terms of time and capacity, lack of capital investment, and lack of technical equipment like 3D scanners in order to properly digitise cultural objects,” said RMIT Professional Communication Lecturer Dr Emma Duester.
“These issues are hindering the ability of the art and culture sector to create international connections or engage with a wider audience in Vietnam.”
Yet, the opportunities that can arise from digitising art and cultural collections are threefold, according to RMIT Design Studies Associate Lecturer Michal Teague.
Firstly, the digitisation of content means that more people can access and view art and cultural collections, both relating to traditional culture and contemporary culture.
“Digital platforms allow Vietnamese cultural professionals to curate a more expansive contemporary image of Vietnamese culture,” Ms Teague said. “And when it comes to heritage-focused culture, digital display in a contemporary format and with contemporary curation can help to promote the content much better.”
Secondly, cultural professionals can shape their own narrative on what contemporary or traditional Vietnamese culture is with the digital shift.
Thirdly, using digital platforms enables for more international connections which “would improve the ability to raise awareness internationally on Vietnamese photography and Vietnamese women, for instance,” said Ms Teague.
Dr Duester added that “the digitisation of creative cultural content in Vietnam can provide an opportunity to ‘digitally export’ culture across the globe, and this format of cultural export is both cheaper and more immediate.”