This content outlines a collaborative initiative between DIG IT UP and the Rotterdam City’s Archive, focusing on the preservation and sharing of intangible heritage in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Despite the large collection of the Rotterdam City Archive, part of the city’s intangible heritage was overlooked by formal government records, with memories, stories and oral traditions at risk of being lost as citizens were not sufficiently involved in heritage collection, preservation and dissemination.
The initiative involved the identification and implementation of a digital tool to facilitate the collection and sharing of cultural memories. The text details the development of user-friendly templates for archiving personal memories, the training of volunteers, and the introduction of crowdsourcing practices to gather videos, photos, and audio from different groups and communities in Rotterdam. Citizens were able to record, describe, and give context to elements of collective urban culture and identity which otherwise could have been overlooked by formal government records.
The text also discusses the improved data collection and cataloguing of inhabitants’ memories and intangible heritage, as well as the raised awareness of the importance of heritage preservation in local communities. It provides insights into the financial aspects of the initiative, detailing the budget and funding sources. Additionally, the text offers guidance on the management and transferability of the initiative’s methodology and techniques to other local scenarios. It concludes by providing links and contacts for further information and collaboration.
