Digital Transformation of Museum Conservation Practices: A Value Chain Analysis of Public Museums in Hong Kong

Background

Cabinets of curiosity, also known as Wunderkammers in German, where collectors categorize and assemble their treasures to the collection for display (Amsel-Arieli, 2012), are the early formation of the museum. The development of museums is open to all and represents the cultures and values of a wide variety of the public (Bennett, 1995). According to the International Council of Museums (ICOM, 2007), the museum is an institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates, and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for education, study, and enjoyment. Museum has a professional role in the stewardship and long-term preservation of its collection.

The Conservation Office is responsible for the long-term preservation of public museum collections, with three conservation laboratories located at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Museum of History, and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum under LCSD (2020a). The Office's mission is to provide competent and professional excellence to collection care, promote conservation awareness through educational and extension programs to engage with the community, and generate public support for conservation endeavors (Conservation Office, 2021). The Office’s extension activities include visiting the conservation laboratories, virtual reality games held at Museum Festival, and do-it-yourself workshops under the School Cultural Day Scheme.