Ladin Cultural Institute "Majon di Fascegn" Formally Adopts CARE Principles as Part of Horizon Europe’s DIGICHer Project
On September 24, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Ladin Cultural Institute “Majon di Fascegn” unanimously resolved to adopt the CARE principles (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) as reference criteria for the digitisation, management, preservation, dissemination, and reuse of Ladin cultural, linguistic, and identity-related heritage.
This landmark adoption forms part of the ongoing implementation of the Horizon project DIGICHer (Digitisation of Cultural Heritage of Minor Communities for Equity and Renovated Engagement). As one of the three European pilot groups involved in the project—alongside the Sámi and Jewish communities—the Ladin Cultural Institute is taking a pioneering role in adopting and piloting innovative, ethical models for managing communities’ digital cultural heritage, contributing to the definition of European best practices and establishing itself as a reference point within the landscape of European linguistic minorities.
Key Highlights of the Resolution
Integrating FAIR and CARE Principles: While FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) ensure technical access and reusability, their integration with CARE principles constitutes an innovative and strategic practice to ensure that digital cultural heritage is not only accessible and reusable but also respectful of the values, rights, sensitivities, and expectations of the Ladin community
Embedding Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC): The Institute recognises FPIC—adapted to the Ladin context—as a vital methodological and ethical benchmark for implementing the CARE principles, thereby fostering ongoing, informed participation by the community in decision-making processes concerning the digitisation, management, access, dissemination, reuse, and preservation of their cultural, linguistic, and identity-based heritage.
Living Heritage Beyond Data: Digital cultural heritage is recognised not merely as digitised objects or data, but as the living expression of a community’s identity, memory, and knowledge.
Commitment to Community Engagement and Outreach: The Institute commits to promoting awareness of FAIR and CARE principles, and DIGICHer tools, methodologies and findings among staff, partners, and the broader community, through training programs, public forums, and outreach initiatives in order to foster a culture of digitization that is conscious, participatory, and ethically responsible.
By formally adopting these principles the Ladin Cultural Institute recognises that digital cultural heritage consists of more than just data, documents, or digitised objects; it represents the living expression of a community’s identity, memory, and knowledge. By establishing participation, transparency, responsibility, and collective benefit as guiding principles for future digital transformation, the Ladin Cultural Institute aims to contribute directly to building an advanced European model for protecting and enhancing the cultural heritage of ethnolinguistic minority communities, and ensuring that digitisation is not only a technical tool for preservation but also an opportunity to strengthen identity, foster cultural growth, and promote democratic participation.
Find out more about the Ladin Cultural Institute https://www.istladin.net/
