Culture in digital change: Committee for Transformation founded!

Culture in digital change: Committee for Transformation founded!

On June 10, 2025, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Vietnam decided to set up an editorial committee. This committee is tasked with developing the “Project for Digital Transformation in the Cultural Sector”. Led by Mr. Phan Tam, Deputy Minister, the committee is supported by a wide range of experts and representatives from various ministries to shape the digital future of Vietnamese culture. The Editorial Committee consists of 24 members, including experts and scientists, who are responsible for the organization and development of the project on a part-time basis and must report to the head of the committee and to their respective agency. In addition to Phan Tam's leadership, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang Lan takes on a pivotal role as permanent deputy board chairwoman, supported by Mr. Le Hong Phong and Ms. Mai Thi Thuy Huong as other deputy board members.

The committee has the responsibility to ensure quality assurance of the project and to provide regular reports to the Minister. Digital transformation is not just a technical undertaking, but also requires a fundamental reorientation within cultural areas to ensure that digital strategies are clearly formulated and coordinated.

The challenges of digital transformation

This initiative is in line with the latest recommendations for action from the Conference of Culture Ministers on digital transformation in the cultural sector, which were adopted on October 11, 2023. The recommendations were derived from a study commissioned by the Cultural Foundation of the States. The chairman of the Conference of Culture Ministers, Falko Mohrs, emphasizes that the central challenges lie primarily in creating a coherent digital strategy and internal culture.

The recommendations cover several areas of action, including:

• Strategie und Ziele
• Austausch und Vernetzung
• Fördermaßnahmen
• Personal und interne Kultur
• Community Building und Audience Development
• Digitale Infrastrukturen
• Messung und Evaluation
• Künstliche Intelligenz (KI)

These aspects are crucial for building a resilient and dynamic cultural sector in the digital era. Mohrs emphasizes that the focus should be less on technical challenges and more on the ability to organize and create the new thinking necessary for digital transformation.

The newly established editorial committee in Vietnam, similar to the recommendations for action from the Conference of Culture Ministers, will serve as a platform to support cultural institutions in implementing these digital strategies and to successfully advance digital transformation. He will also ensure that agencies can create the optimal conditions for the members of the committee to drive digital transformation in the cultural sector, while it will dissolve after completing its tasks.