Administrative absorption of technology: The adoption of virtual production (VP) technologies in China’s state-owned museums

This study investigates the adoption of virtual production (VP) technologies in state-owned museums in China through the framework of new institutionalism organizational theory. By analyzing interviews with 19 practitioners from these museums, the study reveals that under China’s government-led cultural governance, the adoption of VP technologies exhibits a distinct characteristic of administrative absorption of technology. Within the institutional context of government-initiated publicization, commercialization, and digitalization, state-owned museums view VP technologies as crucial tools for showcasing technological innovation and securing governmental support and resources due to their high visibility, replicability, and market appeal. Throughout the adoption process, museums, technology companies, and audiences increasingly align their actions with governmental intentions and preferences, reflecting the administrative logic. This administrative absorption has led to a new ‘support-cooperation’ relationship in China’s museum sector in the digital age, and a highly centralized cooperative cultural governance model. This study provides an institutional perspective and non-Western experience on VP technology adoption for cultural governance, highlighting the complex interactions among technology, culture, government, and audiences within the Chinese context.