Virtual Heritage Futures (VHFs)

The Virtual Heritage Futures project builds on an existing UK-China research collaboration to investigate the short and long-term impact and opportunities for the private sector and creative industry (with a focus on digital technology) to inform, support, and optimise the direction of museums business models. It will contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals in both countries, looking at Creative economy, Sustainable cities and infrastructures and, sustainable preservation of cultural heritage. It is developed based on the pioneering work of the 'Museums of the Future' (MoF) project since 2017, with a network of over 25 sector partners and stakeholders, to respond to structural challenges to museums as cultural and educational institutions struggling with outdated business models.

This project is collaborating with two Chinese universities, Beijing Institute of Technology and China University of Communication, as well as several industrial experts from virtual reality and artificial intelligence.