As cultural experiences increasingly take place online, the conditions under which works are accessed, recommended and shared have fundamentally changed. In this evolving digital landscape, ensuring that audiences can meaningfully encounter a wide range of cultural expressions is no longer guaranteed by availability alone.
Discoverability – the ability of cultural works to be found, highlighted and experienced online, has therefore emerged as a key concept for cultural diversity. It refers not only to whether works are present on digital services, but to how they are organised, promoted and surfaced to audiences through search functions, recommendation systems and editorial choices.
Across all cultural and creative sectors, including film, music, books, audiovisual media, performing arts, visual arts and beyond, the stakes are considerable. The visibility of European works, the circulation of diverse languages and perspectives, and the capacity of creators to reach audiences all depend on discoverability conditions. In an ecosystem largely shaped by global platforms, these conditions raise important questions about diversity, fairness, transparency and access.
This brochure, Discoverability: a key concept for cultural diversity online, aims to clarify what discoverability means in practice, to explore its implications accross sectors, and to identify shared challenges. It also puts forward recommendations for policymakers, platforms and cultural stakeholders to strengthen the discoverability of European works and ensure that Europe’s cultural diversity can thrive in the digital environment.
Credits: Grabuge and European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity