The success of digital innovation in cultural heritage depends strongly on the extent to which communities of practice are actively involved, listened to, and empowered. The ARTEMIS project recognises community building as a foundational component of its mission to develop a Reactive Heritage Digital Twin framework (RHDT) for Europe’s cultural heritage. During its first year, ARTEMIS has emphasised understanding user needs, fostering dialogue across diverse stakeholder groups, and experimenting with new forms of communication and learning tailored to the heritage sector.

ARTEMIS is a three-year, EU-funded research project involving 22 partners across 12 European countries. It proposes a shift from static digital representations towards dynamic, knowledge-driven systems that integrate heterogeneous cultural heritage data and support anticipatory analysis. Rather than reproducing heritage assets as isolated models or archives, the RHDT is conceived as an evolving digital environment capable of understanding context, simulating future scenarios, and supporting expert interpretation across conservation, research, and public engagement.

A key milestone in the first year was a user needs survey addressing a wide spectrum of cultural heritage professionals across Europe. Results reveal a digitally active but fragmented landscape: while respondents work with rich and diverse data, including images, texts, 3D models, scientific, and environmental data, unstructured formats, limited interoperability, and weak workflow integration constrain usability. Familiarity with advanced topics such as semantic modelling, simulations, and Digital Twins remains generally low, yet interest in training, particularly on integrative and scenario-based tools, is consistently high. Respondents also highlight a demand for accessible tools supporting interpretation and decision-making, and for training formats that are visual, modular, and usable by non-technical users. These insights have informed the project’s training proposition and communication strategy, aligning technological development with community expectations.

In parallel, ARTEMIS has evolved its communication approach. Moving beyond conventional dissemination, the first year marked a transition to a narrative-driven From Vision to Action campaign. The campaign foregrounds process, experimentation, and learning, presenting ARTEMIS as a collective journey. Within this framework, the project has explored unconventional communication formats, emphasising visual storytelling, evocative imagery, and accessible language to engage audiences beyond traditional research communities.

Central to this strategy are two flagship engagement initiatives. The ARTEMIS TALKS series has established a Europe-wide public forum where innovators, researchers, and practitioners discuss the future of cultural heritage and digital transformation. The ARTEMIS Learning Series has been developed as an open, modular learning resource with a strong focus on visual and video-based content. Short, accessible episodes address key themes in digital heritage, lowering entry barriers and supporting self-directed learning for diverse audiences. These initiatives respond to an emerging insight: effective digital heritage infrastructures must be inclusive and responsive to the needs of curators, conservators, educators, and local communities.

Finally, ARTEMIS has initiated real-world pilot studies across Europe, spanning mosaics, historic interiors, sculptures, vulnerable buildings, and landscapes. Co-developed with museums, municipalities, and research institutions, these pilots test how RHDTs can support conservation strategies, climate resilience, and evidence-based decision-making.

By the end of its first year, ARTEMIS is building a participatory community advancing digital heritage innovation.