How much you invest in 3D scanning unique museum objects, digitizing inventory lists and archival documents can determine how well Swedish cultural heritage can be preserved if we face a war or a major cyberattack. A report issued by the Council for the Protection of Cultural Heritage and published by the National Antiquities Authority highlights digital preparedness as one of three priority areas.
To ensure important files cannot be destroyed, the council also wants the government to order an investigation into how a national digital safe space could be created. There you could collect and store copies from libraries and museums, for example.
– Such a storage room does not exist today, we recommend that you investigate it and look at a financing model, says national antiquarian Susanne Thedéen, chairwoman of the Council for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. She believes that a digital shelter could be physical, for example in the form of a server hall, or could exist as a cloud service.
The question of how “We Protect Cultural Heritage” has been updated since Russia invaded Ukraine four years ago. According to UNESCO, at least 500 cultural monuments such as historical buildings, theaters and libraries were destroyed in Ukraine during the war.
The existence of digital copies of drawings, for example, is a prerequisite for being able to recreate destroyed objects and buildings, says national antiquarian Susanne Thedéen, citing a well-known example from Paris:
– The fact that there was a 3D scan of Notre Dame was the starting point for the entire reconstruction, she says.
In addition to digital readiness, the report identifies two other areas of focus. The Council for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, which includes the Royal Library and the central and regional museums, would like to see expanded protection for cultural assets that cannot be moved. This means, for example, that more action plans need to be drawn up on how sculptures and buildings can be protected with sandbags and covered windows during war.
In the reportwhich was written on behalf of the government, also mentions that organizations in the cultural sector should work together and conduct more practical exercises to prepare together in the event of a crisis or war.
– Since it is about strengthening preparedness, this should not be financed from the cultural budget, but from the civil defense budget, says Susanne Thedéen.
In 2024, the government allocated a total of SEK 84 million to save cultural heritage in the event of war, and the investment will run for three years.
Read more: Threats to cultural heritage are increasing: “It’s about rewriting history”
