Timeless Treasures: Heritage Documentation In The Digital Age

Digitisation and Workshop Project

14 - 25 October 2024 / Opening: October 14th, 18.00

Amthaus Wieden / Festsaal, Favoritenstraße 18, 1040 Wien

Timeless Treasures is a community-driven project, centered around young people contributing to the documentation and celebration of open spaces. Its key focus is on building a collaborative memory by scanning and archiving objects in open spaces—such as fountains, monuments, and objects. The project emphasizes community engagement, empowering youth by teaching technology and raising awareness of cultural heritage.

As the project's first step, unique items were captured in the 4th District of Vienna and scanned during a 3D scanning workshop. The participants were encouraged to use their own devices, highlighting the accessibility of the technology. In the 2nd phase, selected scanned objects were printed in a 3D printing workshop. The scanned objects are displayed alongside their original locations and AI-generated names, emphasizing the creative recreation of these public items and how AI reimagines their identities. Following the display of the scanned objects and the documentation of the workshops at the 4th District Bezirks Wieden Amthaus, participants will receive the printed objects as gifts. This further highlights the project's communal nature and its intention to pass on a sense of ownership and continuity of memory

This project is not just about recording the past—it captures the present. Even when documenting a sculpture that may have existed for a century, we are recording its contemporary condition, recognising the living history it represents at this moment.

The project also fosters cultural awareness, encouraging respect for diverse traditions through the shared task of documenting the city's essence. Teaching technology and emphasizing the importance of digitally archiving cultural heritage empowers young people with knowledge, skills, and a sense of cultural awareness. It equips them to appreciate and respect diverse cultures while documenting their own, fostering a more connected, empathetic, and culturally rich global society.