Looking back on what happened within ICARUS since the beginning of 2025 we are happy to share with you some relevant news and current developments:
- Thanks to the mediation of our friends at the University of Naples Federico II Department of Humanities, namely Prof. Antonella Ambrosio, ICARUS was able to make ties with the State Archive of Venice – needless to say, a treasure-hoard of extremely precious medieval documents in Europe!
In January, the ICARUS team visited Venice and had a fruitful negotiation with the director of the State Archives of Venice, Dr. Andrea Erboso, kicking off a more serious collaboration in terms of including medieval charters to Monasterium but also in a wider sense. To top it off, Dr. Erboso most graciously offered to host the next ICARUS Convention in Autumn!!
So, we plan to gather the ICARUS community in Venice between 12-14 November 2025! SAVE THE DATE!
- As every year in early March, the global conference for family historians hosted by FamilySearch - RootsTech - took place in Salt Lake City, US. ICARUS was represented by Vlatka Lemić and Thomas Aigner, intensifying our links with the worldwide community of genealogists and heritage enthusiasts.
- Late March also saw the 10th anniversary of the “ICARUS Croatia Days” inviting international guests to the wonderful location of Opatija by the Adriatic Sea. Around 70 presentations were given and hundreds of participants gathered, all the speakers and topics can be found here.
- From 12-14th May 2025 the ICARUS consortium got together in Bupapest for our 34th ICARUS Convention, this time hosted by our friends of the National Archives of Hungary. The gathering once again highlighted the strength of collaboration among European archives — especially through projects like „Archives as Traces of Migration“ (AToM) and „Sustainable Archives and Greener Approaches“ (SAGA) where ICARUS has played a leading role.
Find some visual material here on our website trying to capture the spirit and beautiful surroundings of the Convention venue.
Additionally, an extensive summary of the different sessions of the AToM Symposium can be found here.
Project Updates
DiDip – From Digital to Distant Diplomatics:
- ongoing (until end of 2026), led by the University of Graz (prof. Georg Vogeler), collaboration with ICARUS-members (e.g. UNINA, Bavarian State Archives)
- the project is mostly dedicated to those who have already digitized data and want to share it within Monasterium. In terms of the profile of the charters, the portal is no longer a host for ecclesiastical archives exclusively but a gate to European history in general (covering mostly the period from the 14th – 18th century)
- a more detailed overview was given in the Monasterium session in Budapest (by Florian Atzenhofer-Baumgartner from the University of Graz) also introducing the latest technical development in “Monasterium Next Generation” – find a recap of the session here.
ICARUS Large Scale Project (2026–2029) - Submission
- Since October 2024 potential project partners were meeting on a monthly basis to coordinate content and administrative details of the project application. On 11 May the application was successfully submitted to the EC!
- Title/acronym: ACCESS – Archival Culture & Community Engagement for Social Sustainability
- 14 regular partners:
- 8 archives: CZ, DE, EE, ES, HR, HU, LV, SE
- 3 scientific, academic and technological institutions: Uni Graz (AT), Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (RS), DEX (ES, policy analysis and administrative support)
- 3 pan-European organizations: APEF (Archives Portal Europe Foundation), EBU (European Blind Union), ICARUS
- lead partner: National Archives of Estonia, altogether there are 26 partners, incl. 12 associated partners
- funding decision is expected for November 2025 - keep your fingers crossed!
- Project’s main targets according to three content-based Work Packages are the following:
- Technological Innovation: The project integrates advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, and assistive technologies to improve access to and engagement with historical archives.
- Social Innovation: The project addresses social issues such as gender equality, cultural inclusivity, and the risks of social exclusion for people with visual or cognitive impairments. By analysing the underrepresentation of women in archival records, engaging with minority groups like the Sámi society, and implementing AI-powered solutions for accessibility.
- Capacity Building: The project enhances the skills and knowledge of archivists through training modules and workshops.
- Audience Engagement and Development: ACCESS involves diverse audiences, including cross-generational activities to engage with younger and older generations, minority groups, and individuals with visual or cognitive impairments, through interactive materials, workshops, and multimedia content.
- Digital Communication and Dissemination: The project utilizes digital communication and multimedia to promote its activities and results. By presenting outcomes at international events, networking activities and hosting a final event in the framework of Kiruna 2029 (European Capital of Culture), the project ensures the transfer and dissemination of innovative practices across Europe.
BRIGADISTAS project - Submission
- initiated by the Spanish State Archives and focussing on the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) and the involvement of the International Brigades. Project’s main aims are:
- to compile, describe and digitize trustworthy primary archival sources of the participation of International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War, a genuinely European historical episode, ensuring their continued long-term access for current and future generations;
- to increase the visibility of European documentary heritage as part of the cultural heritage of the continent, integrating a gender perspective in the resulting cultural products
- ICARUS is among the regular partners, content shared by NA of Hungary, NA of Romania, and La Contemporaine of France – The Contemporary, a library-museum-archive specializing in contemporary history and international relations of the 20th and 21st centuries
DigiS – Digital Scriptorium - Submission
- Erasmus+ project call, initiated by the University of Naples Federico II
- the project develops a sustainable education model and an innovative methodology, as well as digital tools to modernise the approach to historical documents using digital skills (incl. workshops, summer and autumn schools etc.)
- ICARUS is among the regular partners, content will be developed by University of Graz, University of Belgrade, and ICARUS Croatia
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