Abstract
As our world shifted online when the global pandemic hit, crypto art crystalized the boom of non-fungible token (NFT) with record-high auctioned prices. The hype for NFT is real in the art world—going beyond, how can NFTs and the underlying blockchain technology help preserve and authenticate cultural heritage? Is NFT a new way to achieve sustainability of cultural heritage?
Thanks to the immutable blockchain ledger, NFT can act as a reliable authentication tool to deter illicit trafficking of cultural artefacts. Besides minting NFT artworks as an additional revenue stream, NFT can be leveraged to facilitate curatorial strategies, public engagement, and act as a tool for fundraising and business development of cultural institutions. NFT also secures artists’ compensation through resale royalty and by avoiding third parties’ commissions. NFT further democratizes ownership of digital cultural assets. What is magical about NFT is its ability to build communities and bring back to life tangible and intangible cultural heritage that has ceased to exist in the physical world.
Blockchain and NFT have the potential to fundamentally change the traditional art market and participate in cultural heritage protection owing to their unique features and new functions. Through empirical case studies, this paper attempts to decrypt the potential of NFT by identifying the NFT practices of cultural institutions and analyzing the trends on NFT marketplaces. The metaverse of NFT for cultural heritage seems boundless, only limited by copyright laws and—paradoxically—by the state of technology itself.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abrams A (2016) Original Emojis join museum of modern art collection. Available via https://time.com/4547514/emojis-museum-of-modern-art/. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
ADF (2022) Shochiku commercialises META Kabuki as an NFT product. Available via https://www.adfwebmagazine.jp/en/art/shochiku-commercialises-meta-kabuki-as-an-nft-product/. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Art Basel-UBS (2022) The Art Market 2022. Available via https://www.artbasel.com/about/initiatives/theartmarket2022pdf. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Artechouse (2022) Aṣẹ, Afro frequencies. Available via https://nft.artechouse.com/ase-afro-frequencies. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Artentik (2022) Twitter @Artentik_ Available via https://twitter.com/Artentik_. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Artnet News (2014) Over 50 percent of art is fake. Available via https://news.artnet.com/market/over-50-percent-of-art-is-fake-130821. Accessed 8 Nov 2022
Barthalois C (2022) Les ventes volontaires aux enchères publiques à l'heure des NFT. Available via https://www.conseildesventes.fr/sites/default/files/pdf_editorial/note_nft_barthalois_20_01_2022_def.pdf. Accessed 4 Nov 2022
BeninBronze.eth (2022) Twitter @beninbronzenfts. Available via https://twitter.com/beninbronzeNFT. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Bhardwaj S (2022) Bitcoin will remain as a standard: Chess world champion Garry Kasparov. Available via https://www.forbesindia.com/article/crypto-made-easy/bitcoin-will-remain-as-a-standard-chess-world-champion-garry-kasparov/75147/1. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Boyart P (2019) First Street Art NFTs. Available via https://www.pboy-art.com/single-post/2019/08/25/premi%C3%A8re-fresque-murale-digitalis%C3%A9e-en-objet-de-collection-num%C3%A9rique-first-street-art-mur#viewer-bgjp9. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Chayka K (2022) What Can N.F.T.S do for dead artists? Available via https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/what-can-nfts-do-for-dead-artists. Accessed 8 Nov 2022
Chen M (2022a) For its NFT Debut, the belvedere museum is fractionalizing a klimt. Available via https://**gculturecommerce.com/belvedere-museum-klimt-the-kiss-nft/. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Chen M (2022b) Inside unit London’s first NFT exhibition showcasing works from four Italian institutions. Accessible via https://**gculturecrypto.com/unit-london-eternalising-art-history/. Accessed 11 Nov 2022
Decentraland (2022) The FIRST ever Rabbi certified Synagogue in the Metaverse. Available via https://events.decentraland.org/event/?id=fdf85ee6-481e-405c-8d04-2d90b3918a4d. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Del Vacchio E, Bifulco F (2022) Blockchain in cultural heritage: insights from literature review. Sustainability 14(4):2324. Available via https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/4/2324/htm. Accessed 11 Nov 2022
Deloitte (2021) Deloitte private and ArtTactic art & finance report 2021. Available via https://www2.deloitte.com/lu/en/pages/art-finance/articles/art-finance-report.html. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
EENC (2013) Challenges and priorities for cultural heritage in Europe: results of an expert consultation. Available via https://eenc.eu/uploads/eenc-eu/2021/04/21/07d4959fa85d06c29a0e262d18398e75.pdf. Accessed 4 Nov 2022
EPSON (2022) HERIWELL – cultural heritage as a source of societal well-being in European regions. Available via https://www.espon.eu/sites/default/files/attachments/HERIWELL_Final%20Report.pdf. Accessed 4 Nov 2022
Ertürk E et al (2021) NFT based fundraising system for preserving cultural heritage: Heirloom. 6th International Conference on Computer Science and Engineering (UBMK), pp. 699–702. Available via https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9559006/references#references. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Escalante-De Mattei S (2022) Italian Government halts sales of NFTs based on masterpieces from the country’s museums. Available via https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/italian-government-halts-nfts-museums-1234633668/. Accessed 14 Nov 2022
EU Commission (2022) Sustainability and cultural heritage. Available via https://culture.ec.europa.eu/cultural-heritage/cultural-heritage-in-eu-policies/sustainability-and-cultural-heritage#:~:text=Sustainability%20is%20one%20of%20the,achieve%20inclusive%20and%20sustainable%20development. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
EU Council (2020) Council conclusions on risk management in the area of cultural heritage 2020/C 186/01. Available via https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52020XG0605%2801%29. Accessed 4 Nov 2022
EU Council (2022) Créer notre avenir, créativité et le patrimoine culturel. Available via https://rm.coe.int/la-transformation-numerique-culture-et-creativite-un-defi-mondial-et-u/1680a5fbd5. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Europa Nostra (2020) COVID-19 & BEYOND: challenges and opportunities for cultural heritage. Available via https://www.europanostra.org/europa-nostra-publishes-extensive-paper-on-challenges-and-opportunities-presented-by-the-covid-19-pandemic-for-the-heritage-world/. Accessed 4 Nov 2022
Farrant T and AP (2021) Europe’s first virtual NFT exhibition launched at Russia’s Hermitage Museum. Available via https://www.euronews.com/culture/2021/11/26/europe-s-first-virtual-nft-exhibition-launched-at-russia-s-hermitage-museum. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Gaskin S (2022) Hilma af Klint NFTs Head to GODA, a platform backed by Pharrell and KAWS. Available via https://ocula.com/magazine/art-news/hilma-af-klint-nfts-head-to-goda-platform/. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Great Lakes Science Center (2018) Great lakes science center box office to accept bitcoin beginning November 13! Available via https://greatscience.com/about/media-press/great-lakes-science-center-box-office-accept-bitcoin-beginning-november-13. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Hayes A (2022) Blockchain facts: what is it, how it works, and how it can be used. Accessible via Investopedia. Available via https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/blockchain.asp#toc-what-is-a-blockchain. Accessed 8 Nov 2022
ICOMOS (2020) The impact of COVID-19 on heritage. Available via http://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/2415/1/ICOMOS_COVID-19_Taskforce_Report.pdf. Accessed 4 Nov 2022
Istituto Amedeo Modigliani (2022) Modigliani NFT project. Available via https://istitutoamedeomodigliani.it/nft-collection/. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
**g Culture & Crypto (2021) Tencent And Dunhuang research Institute Commemorate Cultural Heritage With NFTs. Available via https://**gculturecrypto.com/tencent-dunhuang-research-institute-nfts-wechat-mini-program/. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Leeds H (2020) Russia to create a cultural heritage blockchain register. Available via Beincrypto https://beincrypto.com/russia-to-create-a-cultural-heritage-blockchain-register/. Accessed 8 Nov 2022
Lenzerini F (2011) Intangible cultural heritage: the living culture of peoples. Eur J Int Law 22(1):101–120. Available via https://academic.oup.com/ejil/article/22/1/101/436591. Accessed 4 November 2022
Looty (2022) The Benin bronzes. Available via https://www.looty.art/project/the-benin-bronzes. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Lu F (2021) ‘A Historical Marker’: a historical marker, how ICA miami is thinking about NFTs. Available via https://**gculturecommerce.com/ica-miami-nft-alex-gartenfeld/. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
MetaHistory Museum of War (2022) The revival project by depositphotos. Available via https://metahistory.gallery/auction/collection/revival. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Mustatea K (2018) Meet plantoid: blockchain art with a life of its own. Available via https://www.forbes.com/sites/katmustatea/2018/01/31/meet-plantoid-blockchain-art-with-a-life-of-its-own/?sh=3945af9b3f64. Accessed 14 Nov 2022
NFCastle (2022) House of Lobkowicz demonstrates new use case for applying blockchain technology to cultural heritage practices. Available via https://www.nfcastle.com/files/4308-press-release-house-of-lobkowicz-nfcastle-2022.pdf. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
NFTorah (2022) Torah: the original blockchain. Available via http://nftorah.com/. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Nicu I (2017) Natural hazards – a threat for immovable cultural heritage. A review. Int J Conserv Sci 8(3):375–388. Available via https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319713272_Natural_hazards_-_A_threat_for_immovable_cultural_heritage_A_review; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319713272_Natural_hazards_-_A_threat_for_immovable_cultural_heritage_A_review. Accessed 4 Nov 2022
Norton R (2022) What is a Verisart certificate status? Available via https://help.verisart.com/en/articles/4568835-what-is-a-verisart-certificate-status. Accessed 11 Nov 2022
Park H (2021) NFT artworks inspired by Kansong Art Museum's cultural artifacts to be unveiled. Available via http://www2.koreatimes.co.kr/www/culture/2021/08/135_313377.html. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Pettterson A (2022) Fractional ownership of art. Available via https://arttactic.com/editorial/fractional-ownership-of-art-part-i/. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Polycam Facebook (2022) Backup Ukraine. Available via https://fb.watch/idqQwxvTHx/. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Potocki R (2011) Czechoslovakia, ‘If the Culture Survives…’ Available via https://www.ned.org/democracy-story/czechoslovakia-if-the-culture-survives/. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Press Release Network (2021) Luxury NFT marketplace 1kind debut with world chess champion Garry Kasparov. Available via https://pressreleasenetwork.com/site/2021/11/18/luxury-nft-marketplace-1kind-debut-with-world-chess-champion-garry-kasparov/. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Seymour T (2022) Major court battle looms over NFT launch of August Sander photographs. Available via https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/05/06/major-court-battle-looms-over-nft-launch-of-august-sander-photographs. Accessed 8 Nov 2022
Sigalos M (2022) Bohemian prince, 27, raises $300,000 in NFTs to preserve and share castles, artefacts. Available via https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/06/27-year-old-bohemian-prince-raises-300000-in-nfts-to-preserve-and-share-castles-and-ancient-artifacts.html?qsearchterm=bohemian-prince. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Stampsdaq (2022a) Big interview, NFT stamps — a new chapter in world philately. Available via https://medium.com/@stampsdaq/big-interview-nft-stamps-a-new-chapter-in-world-philately-e810e464cdd0. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Stampsdaq (2022b) Exclusive NFT art is available on STAMPSDAQ from February 1st. Available via https://medium.com/@stampsdaq/exclusive-nft-art-is-available-on-stampsdaq-from-february-1st-ba28a5d87d28. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Stampsdaq (2022c) How it works. Available via https://stampsdaq.com/how-it-works/my-collection-info. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
State Sites of Ukraine (2022) Ukraine's ministry of digital transformation: the metahistory museum has raised more than $600,000 to support Ukraine. Available via https://www.kmu.gov.ua/en/news/mincifri-muzej-metaistoriyi-zibrav-ponad-600-tisyach-dolariv-na-pidtrimku-ukrayini. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Tai MG (2021) From your favorite museum with love #NFT. Art & Cultural Heritage Law Committee’s newsletter Fall 2021, International Law Section, American Bar Association
Townsend M (2018) Tretyakov gallery to use blockchain to raise funds. Available via https://theblockchainland.com/2018/11/23/tretyakov-gallery-blockchain-app-funds/. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Umar Z et al (2022) The return and volatility connectedness of NFT segments and media coverage: fresh evidence based on news about the COVID-19 pandemic. Financ Res Lett 49:103031. Available via https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9159964/. Accessed 4 Nov 2022
UNESCO (2022a) Concept of digital preservation. Available via https://en.unesco.org/themes/information-preservation/digital-heritage/concept-digital-preservation. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
UNESCO (2022b) Damaged cultural sites in Ukraine verified by UNESCO. Available via https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/damaged-cultural-sites-ukraine-verified-unesco. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
UNESCO (2022d) International Conference on “Culture for Sustainable Cities”. Available via https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/international-conference-culture-sustainable-cities-hangzhou-peoples-republic-china-10-12-december. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
UNESCO (2022e) Resha** policies for creativity, building resilient and sustainable cultural and creative sectors. Available via https://www.unesco.org/reports/resha**-creativity/2022/en/building-resilient-sustainable-cultural-creative-sectors. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
UNESCO (2022f) World heritage and sustainable development. Available via https://whc.unesco.org/en/sustainabledevelopment/. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
UNESDOC (2009) Charter on the preservation of the digital heritage. Available via https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000179529.page=2. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
UnitLondon (2022) Instagram post. Available via https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ4YkqvsjgI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
United Nations (1987), Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. Available via www.digitallibrary.un.org/record/139811. Last accessed on 12 November 2022
Valeonti F (2021) Crypto collectibles, museum funding and OpenGLAM: challenges, opportunities and the potential of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Appl Sci 11(21):9931. Available via https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/21/9931. Accessed 4 Nov 2022
Whitaker A (2019) Art and Blockchain: a primer, history, and taxonomy of Blockchain use cases in the arts. Artivate J Entrenepreneurship Arts 8(2)., Summer 2019. Available via https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337064517_Art_and_Blockchain_A_Primer_History_and_Taxonomy_of_Blockchain_Use_Cases_in_the_Arts. Accessed 11 Nov 2022
Whitaker A, Kräussl R (2019) Blockchain, fractional ownership, and the future of creative work. Available via https://ssrn.com/abstract=3100389. Accessed 11 Nov 2022
Zavyalova V (2021) COVID-19 lockdown and the NFT boom fueled the art + tech market. What's next? Available via https://finance.yahoo.com/news/covid-19-lockdown-nft-boom-124944250.html. Accessed 4 Nov 2022
Zeromint (2022) Belgian barrels - the movie. Available via https://zeromint.com/collections/yisKoX_LpAAJ2iYEbLY9p. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Zhao W (2021) Tencent mints NFTs to digitize a world heritage — on a private blockchain. Available via https://www.theblock.co/post/117245/tencent-nft-mogao-caves-crypto. Accessed 12 Nov 2022
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Nicolazzi, L., Tai, M.G. (2024). NFT and Blockchain Technology for a Sustainable Future of Cultural Heritage. In: Mastandrea Bonaviri, G., Sadowski, M.M. (eds) Heritage in War and Peace. Law and Visual Jurisprudence, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-47347-0_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-47347-0_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-47346-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-47347-0
eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)