Promoting Equal Access to Public Digital Cultural Services in China: Efforts and Challenges

Abstract

With the development of information technology and the advent of the digital era, the digitization of cultural heritage and the internet-based equal access to the digitized heritage have received worldwide attention. Taking China as a case study, this paper reviews its efforts and challenges to promote equal access to public digital cultural services (PDCS). It starts by introducing the efforts, including PDCS-related legislations, policies and standards issued by the government, and major government-initiated PDCS projects. They are followed by an analysis of its challenges, including deficiencies in government funding, internet penetration, broadband access rates in the Central and Western regions and rural areas, and the limited digital literacy, cultural knowledge, and income levels of certain population groups. This study concludes with the suggestion that promoting equal access to PDCS in less developed regions, rural areas, and vulnerable groups is still an important task in China, and the government needs to work with private sector partners to overcome the challenges.