21-22 February 2017, Europeana Aspiration, Europeana Network Association Approach

1. Europeana Aspiration,
Europeana Network
Association Approach
MC meeting - The Hague 21-22 February 2017
Uldis Zarins

2. Europeana vision (Riga version)
We believe that open access to our cultural heritage will
make Europe a more culturally connected, sustainable,
tolerant and inclusive society, where European citizens
reach their cultural, intellectual and entrepreneurial
potential and contribute to smart and durable economic
growth; building on the freely available digital collections
of European cultural heritage institutions we can transform
the world with culture.

3. ENA Mission (Riga version)
The mission of the Europeana Network Association is to
participate in Europeana governance, strategy and
policies; to drive cross-border and cross-domain co-
operation; facilitate innovation in the digital cultural
heritage community; develop and implement relevant
frameworks, standards and best-practice; promote the
vision and values of Europeana and encourage
engagement with and use of Europeana by both cultural
heritage and other sectors.

4. Comments on vision
- More “we together” focus;
- The European citizens and what impact are we leaving on European
citizens should be in the centre of vision;
- Terms “entrepreneurial”and “economic” accentuate the economic aspect,
rather than philosophical - of what we do;
- Vision is rounded around the 18th century enlightenment eliteness rather
than the modern European society.

5. Comments on mission
- Too long;
- Lacks the reason why to participate in Europeana;
- Lacks cross border cooperation, Europeana as a tool to achieve cross border values of
culture;
- Make it more inclusive;
- It’s about cultural heritage not about Europeana;
- There should be an understanding where the divisions are, where the ENA starts and ends,
and where the Foundation starts and ends. This is sort of a job description for Association. It
forms a baseline for the new members;
- Terms vision and mission are statutory, repeatedly seen and heard. Instead call it “ambition”
or phrase it in actionable terms, such as “what we aspire to” (vision) and “how we achieve
it” (mission).
- Change an attitude. What we want to change is missing from the statement.
- Diversity of representation is not covered.

6. Other comments
- Perhaps good to have a look at other formats that feel a bit less 'tired' than Vision and
Mission; “job description” or “ambitions” are steps in the right direction;
- I think we should use a more lively tone of voice in how we continue to formulate our
ambition/job description, or simply - what we aspire to and how we get there;
- I agree that we should look for better ways of presenting what Europeana and the Association
think they want to do;
- Use of definitions - “culture”, “cultural heritage”, “digital heritage”
- It seems we want to build such a European identity, while I think we should rather work to
promote and support diversity.

7. Transformation
Vision -> Our Aspiration
Mission -> Our Approach

8. Our Aspiration
We build on Europe’s rich cultural heritage
and make it easier for people to use, whether
for work, for learning or just for fun. Our work
contributes to an open and creative society,
now and in the future. We transform the world
with culture.

9. Our Approach
We are the community that shapes Europeana. We believe in creative
collaboration and teamwork. We are committed to making, sharing, promoting
and repurposing Europe’s digital cultural heritage.
To achieve this we:
●use our individual expertise to encourage innovation and foster cross-border
and cross-domain collaboration between people from cultural heritage,
creative, technology, education and research areas;
●develop, validate and implement the standards and frameworks that improve
access and discovery;
●participate in Europeana governance and strategy;
●promote Europeana’s activities within professional networks.

10. Next Steps
➔ Approval of the Approach
➔ Endorsement of the Aspiration
➔ Approval of Aspiration by the Foundation - 27
February

11. 21 February 2017