ESHCC and ESL introduce human-centric ARCHS framework for digital transformation in cultural sectors

The framework responds to growing sector needs for strategic guidance that aligns data use, organisational practice, and public values. ARCHS is meant to be used and be further developed as a practical tool for reflection, planning, and self-assessment, and focused on strengthening competitiveness and sustainability of organizations in cultural and creative sectors and industries.

EXCENTRIC focuses on supporting digital transformation in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI), with pilots in live music, festivals, performing arts, and museum organisations. The project examines how data can be used and shared in organisational practice, and how collaboration around data can support decision-making in these sectors.

ARCHS was developed within EXCENTRIC as a framework that brings together five principles: Adaptive, Responsible, Collaborative, Human-Centric, and Sustainable, and provides a structured way to reflect on digital practices and their alignment with organisational goals.

Within EXCENTRIC, collaborative data ecosystems (CDEs) are being developed, with ARCHS setting out guiding principles to inform collaboration, data use, and responsibility across different contexts. The pilots help translate ARCHS into practice and support shared learning across the project, feeding into future guidance for cultural organisations working on digital transition.

The EUR team involved in the project includes: Izabela Derda, Erik Hitters, Stefano Russo, Danai Papathanasiou, Ellen Loots (ESHCC) and Enrique Santamaria Echeverria (ESL).