Dialogues with cultural heritage via museum digitalisation: developing a model of visitors’ cognitive identity, technological agent, cultural symbolism, and public engagement

The digitalisation of museums is critical for preserving cultural artefacts and for public education. However, what digitally attracts younger generations to cultural heritage displays while boosting value perception among visitors and initiating conversations with history remains conceptually unclear. This study investigates conversations and connections among historical legacies, digital technologies, and younger generations. Using a structural equation model, the authors examine the role of existing digital tools used to engage millennial museum visitors, connect with history, and enhance social recognition of culture. Furthermore, they developed an integrated explanatory Cognitive Identity-Agent-Symbolism-Engagement (CIASE) model to identify the associations between variables. The findings recommend a technology-driven pathway for integrating user experience, digital technology, and cultural heritage to design better visitor experiences, explore their sense of cultural identity, and establish a stable connection between culture and individuals.