Galt museum collaborating on Ukraine project
The Galt Museum & Archives has unveiled a new international collaborative initiative designed to support cultural heritage preservation in Ukraine.
The project was created in 2023 by Galt archivist Andrew Chernevych, and piloted in partnership with the International Council on Archives. The idea is to create a groundbreaking training opportunity for emerging archival professionals in Ukraine through a summer school program.
The project has recently been confirmed and put into motion thanks to collaboration from AM, a leading online publisher of primary sources based in the United Kingdom. Not only has AM funded the project, but they will also be providing invaluable instructional and technical assistance to ensure its smooth operation, says the museum in a press release.
Taking on the role of coordinator and volunteer instructor, the Galt Archivist will guide participants through the immersive learning experience.
Scheduled to unfold for a week in June , the summer school will be hosted by the Blinken Open Society Archives (OSA) Archivum in Budapest, Hungary. Renowned as an international archival repository and research centre, Blinken OSA Archivum will serve as the setting for as many as 10 young professionals from various regions of Ukraine, including those heavily impacted by conflict, to converge and enhance their archival expertise.
The Galt has a distinguished history of spearheading and supporting impactful initiatives in support of Ukraine. In 2022, it launched a fundraising campaign with the backing of the Association of Canadian Archivists. Also, in 2023, the Galt archivist played a pivotal role in the development of an emergency digitization program for frontline archives in Southern and Central Ukraine. The strategic partnership with
AM this year marks yet another significant milestone in this ongoing commitment.
“I met an AM representative at a conference and was fascinated at how closely their mission aligned with my work at the Galt. It was all about primary sources – which is what archival documents are – and making them accessible,” says Chernevych.