Roundtable at the "Cultural Heritage and New Technologies Conference" in Vienna

Towards world heritage stewardship

The 28th Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies with the topic “Cultural Heritage as a Resource: Technologies for the Paradigm Shift in Archaeology, Conservation and Education” took place from 15th November to 17th November 2023 welcoming around 200 people on-site and around 60 people online from over 30 different countries.

On 17 November the roundtable „Towards world heritage stewardship?“ took place at the town hall in Vienna. The technological possibilities for digital preservation of cultural heritage have increased enormously over the past decades. Economical and universally available tools, such as image-based 3D reconstruction and digital mapping, have opened the way to full recording and preservation of material and immaterial heritage. But as global challenges, such as rapid environmental change, increase the pressure on digital preservation, essential questions arise from the long-term view: Who should be entrusted with the stewardship of international digital heritage? How and where can digital heritage be curated, to ensure that it will be available to many future generations? What will happen with the digital heritage of nations and communities that cannot physically preserve their own heritage? How can we make sure that political or financial factors will not impede digital access to heritage?

These demanding questions were discussed with diverse stakeholders, such as NGOs, academia, state institutions and the general public. On behalf of Blue Shield Austria, Constantin Staus Rausch took part in the roundtable. 

Preserving digital heritage demands a multifaceted approach, from creating digital archives and collaborating with institutions to integrating with cultural organizations and NGOs where open- source initiatives and community involvement are vital. The goal is evident: ensure long-term accessibility and preservation with transparency, inclusivity, and adaptability to technological changes. 

Blue Shield's Digital Cultural Heritage Representative is Anna Puhr.
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++ More Information on the Conference: chnt.at ++