Challenges and Economic hurdles in Digital Age: A Study of Salar Jung Museum, India

Abstract

Digitization of Museums is an ongoing process since the beginning of the 21st century. With growth, expansion and diversification in the sector of information technology digitalization has become a necessity, for even institutions that deal with heritage and culture like museums. Today it has become an all-pervasive phenomenon and adopting digital technology, enables museums to attract visitors far and wide today. As the trend is gathering momentum universally, there are numerous studies and research undertaken, in the areas impacted by this phenomenon, with museums being no exceptions. The challenge and economics of developing, digitizing, and maintaining Indian museums and art galleries thus merits a detailed study. Keeping these challenges in mind, a research study was undertaken to determine the “Challenges and Economic hurdles in Digital Age: A study of Salar Jung Museum, India”. As part of the study, in-depth interviews with the Salarjungs Museum Curator, Librarian, administration department, and social media manager were conducted using a self-administered questionnaire, and data was analysed in a qualitative manner. This study concludes that Salarjungs Museum is challenged by economics of digitization and maintenance. Though, the museum team is taking positive steps towards reaching to the populace across the board by effectively digitalizing the entire museum, the fact remains that for a museum like the Salarjung Museum, digital support is used to only enhance user’s physical experience and this presents its own set of challenges and limitations.