2025:Program/How can Wikimedia support the digital preservation of heritage at risk? Lessons learned in the Heritage Guard Network pilot project and steps ahead
Session title: How can Wikimedia support the digital preservation of heritage at risk? Lessons learned in the Heritage Guard Network pilot project and steps ahead
- Session type: Lecture
- Track: GLAM
- Language: en
The Heritage Guard Network brings together Wikimedians, affiliates, and partners to explore how Wikimedia platforms can support the digital preservation of cultural heritage at risk. In its first phase, the project produced a comprehensive report with insights on risks, technology, legal barriers, and engagement — drawing from work in Ukraine, Georgia, Poland, and Sweden, but relevant far beyond. This session will briefly present the key findings based on the final papers of the pilot project, and then focus on what comes next: implementing those learnings in the second phase of the project. We’ll share plans to develop practical tools and toolkits for volunteers and partners, and invite attendees to contribute ideas, feedback, and collaborations. Whether your interest lies in heritage, open knowledge, or digital preservation, this session offers a chance to engage with a growing global effort.
Description
In its first phase, the Heritage Guard Network set out to connect Wikimedia affiliates, volunteers, and external partners to explore how Wikimedia platforms — and the broader Wikimedia community — can most effectively contribute to the digital preservation of at-risk cultural heritage. Through collaborative, cross-border efforts, the project produced a comprehensive final report addressing key areas such as risk assessment, technology and data use, legal challenges, and community engagement. While the research was grounded in activities in Ukraine, Georgia, Poland, and Sweden, its insights and recommendations are widely applicable to other regions, particularly where heritage is threatened by war, climate change, natural disasters, or neglect.
This session will begin with a concise overview of the key findings from the final paper, highlighting valuable lessons and strategic takeaways. The main focus, however, will be forward-looking: how we plan to translate these findings into action in the second phase of the project. This next phase will involve the co-creation and deployment of practical tools and toolkits designed to support both volunteers and institutional partners in their heritage preservation work.
We aim to make this session participatory and inclusive. Attendees will be invited to contribute their perspectives, experiences, and ideas as we shape the next steps together. We’ll discuss concrete ways for individuals and organizations to get involved, collaborate, and amplify the impact of this initiative. By the end of the session, participants will have a clear understanding of how they can support and benefit from the project’s evolving work — whether by adopting new tools, partnering on shared objectives, or contributing to the broader ecosystem of digital heritage preservation.
- How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?
This session closely aligns with the Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability theme by focusing on the role of Wikimedia platforms and communities in preserving at-risk cultural heritage. Through the Heritage Guard Network, Wikimedia affiliates, volunteers, and external partners from different countries have come together to explore how collaborative, cross-border efforts can strengthen digital heritage preservation. By fostering participation from diverse voices and perspectives, the project embodies inclusivity, ensuring that heritage protection is a shared, global responsibility.
The session will highlight the impact of this initiative by presenting key findings from its first phase, which produced a comprehensive report on risk assessment, technology use, legal challenges, and community engagement. More importantly, it will focus on the next phase — translating these insights into action through the development of practical tools and resources that empower both volunteers and institutions to contribute meaningfully. By actively involving participants in discussions and decision-making, the session ensures that the project’s direction is shaped by a broad and engaged community.
Sustainability is at the core of this initiative, as the project moves beyond research to create long-term solutions for heritage preservation. With cultural sites increasingly threatened by war, climate change, and neglect, Wikimedia’s role in providing open-access, collaborative tools becomes more vital than ever. This session will serve as a space to discuss how the community can support and benefit from these efforts, ensuring that Wikimedia’s impact on digital heritage preservation continues to grow in a meaningful and lasting way.
- What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Some experience will be needed
Resources
Speakers
- eric luth
- I am Project Manager for Involvement and Advocacy at Wikimedia Sverige. In that capacity, I have recently worked primarily with international partnerships, such as with the UN agencies, and advocacy for the open movement at the national, European and international level. I have an M.A. in Comparative Literature, and live in Stockholm.
- Mehman (WMGE)
- Wikipedian/Wikimedian
- Olesia Lukaniuk
- .