DIGICHer: Advancing Inclusive and Ethical Digital Heritage – First Half Highlights
Over the first half of the project, the DIGICHer has laid a strong foundation for inclusive, community-driven digitisation practices across Europe.
From Rovaniemi to Inari, Vilnius to Val di Fassa, DIGICHer has building trust and co-developing strategies for the ethical digitisation of cultural heritage.
Key activities and highlights include partners meetings, pilot workshops with communities, deliverables and other activities.
📌 Partners meetings:
Kick-off meeting in Rovaniemi (March 2024), hosted by the University of Lapland.
Partner meeting in Vilnius (September 2024), focusing on methodology and ethics.
Partners meeting in Fassa Valley (March 2025), focusing on the opportunities and challenges of digitizing and development of an integrated digital system for cultural heritage.
📌Workshops with communities:
Co-design workshop in Val di Fassa (6 February 2025) – held at the Istitut Cultural Ladin in San Giovanni di Fassa. Representatives from all sectors of the local community gathered to shape future digital initiatives and highlight six ongoing cultural projects.
Workshop with Sámi community in Inari (20 February 2025) – brought together community members with deep connections to Sámi cultural heritage and digital work to explore perspectives on ethical digitisation.
✅Deliverables and Research Outputs:
A range of strategic deliverables was developed across different work packages as part of a collaborative effort by the project partners. These outcomes not only reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the initiative but also lay the foundation for the next steps in designing the research infrastructure framework. The results will be shared at international conferences and through academic publications, supporting further dialogue and development within the field of citizen science.
Other Activities:
Advisory Board meeting (24 April 2025) – brought together experts focused on equitable digitisation for minority communities, including the Sámi, Jewish, and Ladin groups. Luca Baraldi, a board member, shared: “Minority cultures frequently offer the dissonant notes, the unexpected perspectives that are essential to cultural evolution. Without them, cultural development as we know it wouldn’t have been possible.”
Instead of treating communities as passive recipients of technology, the project is built on co-creation, mutual learning, and respectful knowledge sharing. DIGICHer is not just about technology – it is about justice, equity, and community voice. It’s about ensuring that the digital future of Europe’s cultural memory includes everyone, equally.
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