English Translation of KÖK Press Release

The following is an English translation of the press release mentioned by Liv in this month's Soup News:



"Wikimedia Sweden released a really interesting press release today which states that they are starting a project called Kopplat Öppet Kulturarve (Connected Open Cultural Heritage) which aims to gather and publish unique digital information about assorted cultural heritage around the world.

The project is going to be founded by Postkodslotteriets cultural fond from which they have received 2,5 million Swedish Krona.

Their main goal is to collect and digitally publish around 100 000 pictures of cultural heritage under an open licence policy. Among other treasures about 2500 pictures of Palmyra in Syria is planned to be released.

“Our Cultural Heritage is destroyed both by the works of time and because it disappears into forgetfulness of us [humanity] as a collective. Some is destroyed by deliberate action and systematically by forces that wants to erase parts of history that collides with their own world views” say Wikimedia Sweden's operations manager Anna Troberg and adds “I am proud that Wikimedia Sweden is involved and building the digital defence line for cultural heritage”

KÖK is driven and coordinated by Wikimedia Sweden but it is a collaboration with UNESCO, Kulturarv utan gränser (Cultural Heritage without Borders) and Wikimedia Italia. There will also be intensive collaborations with museums, libraries, archives and government offices from about ten countries.

“We will mostly be working with completely unique material that for the first time will be connected and made public through among other things Wikipedia through the platforms of Wikimedia” say John Andersson, who is the project leader for KÖK. “The project will not only be leaving traces on the internet. We will also be doing a photo exhibition in three countries”

Angelica Månsson-Gerde, general manager for PostkodsLotteriets cultural fond comments;

“Without Wikimedia Swedens initative irreplaceable cultural heritage from many different sites around the world is at risk of being lost completely. Through digital technology and collaborations with professionals as well as amateurs from all over the world Wikimedia Sweden now creates the conditions not only to preserve cultural heritage at risk of being destroyed or disappearing, but to make it available for the public and research. We are proud to support this project"