Last week, we concluded the 5th International DARIAH-HR Conference – Digital Humanities & Heritage in Osijek, and we are still inspired by the energy and creativity this event brought! Over 230 participants from Croatia, across Europe, India, and the United States gathered to discuss, exchange ideas, and collaborate on topics spanning scientific and cultural heritage, STEM, the humanities, and the arts. The three-day program included workshops, panel discussions, poster exhibitions, and lectures — and, above all, many inspiring conversations.
Organized by the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research in Zagreb, the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, and the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, the event brought together more than 80 speakers and experts from 18 countries, including Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Serbia, Romania, Belgium, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Turkey, Luxembourg, Germany, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Spain, India, and the USA. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, participants explored new approaches to cultural heritage within STEM, the humanities, the arts, and the cultural and creative industries.
Throughout the conference, discussions focused on connecting academia, industry, and the creative sector, the role of artificial intelligence and augmented reality in education and heritage studies, and the ethical, epistemological, and social dimensions of the digital transformation of cultural and scientific heritage.
This year’s keynote speakers offered unique insights into the future of digital heritage:
- Marinos Ioannides, Director of the UNESCO Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage at the Cyprus University of Technology, spoke about #DigitalTwin and #MemoryTwin technologies and how digital heritage can preserve not only artifacts but also the stories, memories, and identities connected to them.
- Ines Vodopivec, Secretary General of AI4LAM and member of the Europeana Network Association, presented innovative ways in which AI in libraries, archives, and museums can bridge STEM and the humanities, opening up new creative possibilities.
The conference was further enriched by the contribution of students from the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, mentored by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Art. Ana Sladetić Šabić. Their exhibition of posters by Master’s students of Illustration highlighted interactivity within artistic research and projects. In addition, awards were presented to students who participated in the design competition for the DARIAH Assistant mobile app logo, and the conference opening featured a delightful guitar intermezzo by students of the Department of Instrumental Studies and Composition with Music Theory.
Other highlights included workshops on developing mobile application prototypes in the fields of art and culture, presentations on the use of advanced digital methods for documenting and preserving architectural heritage, and lectures on European strategies, policies, and the role of literacy in AI-driven education. The event concluded with the symbolic panel discussion “Vitis disciplinis intertexta: Wine at the Crossroads of Science, Heritage and the Arts” held in the historic wine cellar of Belje Winery in Kneževi Vinogradi.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia for its financial support to the DARIAH-HR consortium, without which this conference would not have been possible. Special thanks also go to the City of Osijek and the Osijek-Baranja County for supporting field and accompanying programs, as well as to the Museum of Slavonia and the Archaeological Museum Osijek for offering free admission to all conference participants.
Finally, a heartfelt thank-you to all presenters, panelists, workshop leaders, volunteers, and participants who joined us in Osijek to learn, network, and share ideas. With this event, Osijek and its university proudly joined the list of DARIAH-HR hosts, following previous conferences held in Split, Rijeka, Zagreb, and Zadar — and left a lasting mark on the growing DARIAH community.
