ICCROM Ctrl+S Culture: AI and Heritage in a Digital World

<p><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p><strong>Ctrl+S Culture</strong> is more than a conference—it is a<strong> collective call to protect, activate, and reimagine cultural heritage in the age of artificial intelligence</strong>. We invite researchers, practitioners, and professionals to submit abstracts for the international online workshop “AI and Cultural Heritage”, which will take place on the 20 and 21 November 2025. </p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p> <p><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p>Digital is a continent—vast, evolving, and accessible to anyone, anywhere. In a world where digital is the new domain—expansive, ever-shifting, and accessible to all—our cultural heritage faces unprecedented opportunities and urgent challenges. It is a realm where heritage is not only preserved but continuously created and reimagined. In this dynamic space, Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a powerful tool that can transform how we safeguard, interpret, and share our cultural heritage. </p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p> <p><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p>Conceived by ICCROM’s Sustaining Digital Heritage (SDH) initiative, this two-day online event is organized in close collaboration with the First Aid and Resilience for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (<a href="https://www.iccrom.org/programmes/first-aid-and-resilience-times-crisis-far/resources" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FAR</a>) and Youth.Heritage.Africa (<a href="https://www.iccrom.org/programmes/youthheritageafrica" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YHA</a>) programmes. It is held in partnership with <a href="https://www.vaia.be/nl/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VAIA – the Flanders AI Academy</a> – and <a href="https://www.yorku.ca/cifal/about-cifal-york/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CIFAL York</a>, part of UNITAR’s global network of training centres. Ctrl+S Culture brings together visionary thinkers, creators, and practitioners working at the intersection of AI, culture, and heritage protection. </p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p> <p><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p>This conference will explore the <strong>opportunities, challenges, and ethical implications</strong> of applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in the field of cultural heritage. It aims to stimulate critical reflection and cross-disciplinary exchange among those engaged in the preservation, interpretation, and dissemination of cultural heritage through digital means. </p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p> <p><!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --></p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Conference Themes</h3> <p><!-- /wp:heading --></p> <p><!-- wp:list --></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li>AI-driven heritage documentation and data analysis</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></p> <p><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li>Machine learning and pattern recognition for cultural content</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></p> <p><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li>AI in conservation, restoration, or site management</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></p> <p><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li>AI in assessing conflict, climate and disaster risks to heritage</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></p> <p><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li>AI in assisting in emergency response, first aid and post-crisis recovery for heritage</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></p> <p><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li>AI in storytelling and creative reuse of heritage</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></p> <p><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li>Generative AI and creative heritage applications</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></p> <p><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li>Ethical and philosophical implications of AI in heritage</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></p> <p><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li>Case studies, pilot projects, and experimental approaches</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></p> <p><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li>AI, accessibility, and community engagement for heritage conservation and management</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></p> <p><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li>Addressing bias, fairness, and transparency in heritage AI tools</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></p> <p><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li>Legal, social, or policy perspectives on AI use in heritage </li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <p><!-- /wp:list --></p> <p><!-- wp:heading --></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Essential Information</h2> <p><!-- /wp:heading --></p> <p><!-- wp:list --></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li><strong>What</strong>: ICCROM International Virtual Conference: Ctrl+S Culture: AI and Heritage in a Digital World</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></p> <p><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li><strong>When</strong>: 20 and 21 November 2025</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></p> <p><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li><strong>Where</strong>: Online (See conference website <strong><a href="https://www.iccrom.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/concept_note_sdh_iccrom_2025.pdf" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.iccrom.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/concept_note_sdh_iccrom_2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HERE</a></strong>)</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></p> <p><!-- wp:list-item --></p> <li><strong>How</strong>: Online registration to be announced</li> <p><!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <p><!-- /wp:list --></p> <p><!-- wp:heading --></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Updates</h2> <p><!-- /wp:heading --></p> <p><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p>27 May 2025: Call For Papers Open – See the online call <strong><a href="https://www.iccrom.org/news/call-papers-international-virtual-conference" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.iccrom.org/news/call-papers-international-virtual-conference" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HERE</a></strong></p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p> <p><!-- wp:paragraph --></p> <p><!-- /wp:paragraph --></p>