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IS41850

Academic Year 2025/2026

AI & Digital Cultural Heritage (IS41850)

Subject:
Information Studies
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Information & Comms Studies
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Sun Park
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module explores the interrelations between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cultural heritage in two parts: (1) the use of AI for the digital preservation of cultural heritage from the past; and (2) the deployment of AI to create new cultural objects and knowledge which can become heritage for future generations. Beginning with a critical examination of the definitions of World Heritage, Intangible Cultural Heritage and Document Heritage, the module addresses the multi-dimensional nature of Digital Cultural Heritage, focusing on digitalised heritage and born-digital heritage. Drawing on theoretical understandings of heritage, the module examines the ethics, policies and regulations that policy-makers and practitioners in the GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) fields and cultural institutions should consider when supporting the use of AI in the heritage sector. The rest of the module takes a more exploratory approach, raising the question of whether AI-generated works produced today will be heritage in the future. Are AI-generated works merely data-processing outcomes rather than culturally meaningful content? Or will those data-processing outcomes and associated human craftsmanship be culturally meaningful heritage for future generations?

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to demonstrate:

1) A critical understanding of the definitions of ‘tangible’, ‘intangible’ and ‘digital’ cultural heritage from inter/trans-disciplinary perspectives;
2) An in-depth familiarity with various AI technologies for the preservation of cultural heritage and for the creation of cultural content;
3) An analytical lens of the benefits and limitations of ethics, policies and regulations on AI and cultural heritage;
4) A practical ability to plan an AI-heritage project which considers the economic, social, cultural and political aspects of cultural institutions, tech companies, local communities and stakeholders;
5) An insightful perspective on the value of AI-generated works as future heritage.

Indicative Module Content:

1) UNESCO World Heritage, Intangible Cultural Heritage, Documentary Heritage
2) Digitalised Heritage, Born-digital Heritage
3) Heritage as information systems
4) AI technologies in visualisation, documentation, curation and creation
5) Heritage value in AI-generated works
6) Ethics, policies and regulations on AI and heritage
7) Prospective roles of social scientists and computer scientists for future heritage

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Autonomous Student Learning

101
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module consists of lectures and class activities, along with case-based learning, reflective learning, critical reading and project work.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Individual Project: A 1,500-word project plan on using AI to promote the economic, social and cultural value of heritage Week 10 Graded No
40
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): A 3,000-word essay on the extent to which existing policies on AI and heritage can manage AI-generated works as 'proper' heritage in future Week 15 Graded No
60
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Indicative reading list

- Harrison, R. (2018). On Heritage Ontologies: Rethinking the material worlds of heritage. Anthropological Quarterly, 91(4), 1365-1383. https://doi.org/10.1353/anq.2018.0068
- Park, S. (2023). The Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage with Generative Artificial Intelligence: Practical and Ethical Issues. UNESCO ICHCAP Intangible Cultural Heritage Courier, pp. 16-17. https://ichcourier.unesco-ichcap.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ICH-Courier-54high_eng.pdf
- Park, S. (2024). The Registration of AI-generated Works as UNESCO heritage: Human-algorithmic Common Heritage of Mankind. Proceedings of XXVII Generative Art Conference, pp. 99-109. https://www.artscience-ebookshop.com/ga2024_book.htm
- Thwaites, H. (2013). Digital Heritage: What Happens When We Digitize Everything?. In: Ch'ng, E., Gaffney, V., Chapman, H. (eds) Visual Heritage in the Digital Age. Springer Series on Cultural Computing. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5535-5_17
- UNESCO. (2022). Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/recommendation-ethics-artificial-intelligence

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 16:00 - 17:50
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