Why open cultural heritage matters
Access to and enjoyment of cultural heritage is a fundamental human right, as recognised by UNESCO. It plays a vital role in fostering peace, mutual understanding and sustainable development. Cultural heritage enables individuals and communities to express their identities, preserve traditions, and actively engage in cultural life, which are essential for human dignity and social cohesion.
Without open access, we risk the erosion of cultural diversity, the weakening of dialogue, and the loss of shared narratives that connect us to our past and inspire our future. The Europeana Initiative is committed to expanding access to digital cultural heritage, ensuring that it is available for everyone to explore, enjoy and benefit from.
Introducing the TAROCH Coalition
To tackle systemic barriers and promote fair and open access to cultural heritage, Creative Commons established the TAROCH Coalition. This initiative seeks to collaborate with UNESCO and its Member States to explore the development of a Recommendation —or another standard-setting instrument— that advances open access to out-of-copyright cultural heritage.
The Coalition fosters global dialogue and proposes solutions to remove unnecessary barriers to accessing cultural heritage. It aims to encourage discussions among UNESCO Member States on policies that support open solutions, including new tools, global standards, best practices, and systems that make cultural heritage more accessible to all. This mission aligns with UNESCO’s commitment to the free flow of information and the preservation of cultural heritage while addressing global challenges.
TAROCH’s ultimate goal is to improve access to cultural heritage in the digital age. By driving deeper discussions and fostering international collaboration, the Coalition aims to establish a shared framework for policymakers —one that promotes openness, inclusivity, and sustainability in cultural heritage for the benefit of society as a whole.
The values and principles of TAROCH align closely with the Europeana Initiative’s mission to promote the access to and reuse of cultural heritage. We believe that digital cultural heritage is a public good, open for all to explore and benefit from. These principles are also reflected in the Europeana Public Domain Charter, which advocates for the widespread and free reuse of cultural heritage in the digital space, ensuring that it remains accessible and can be used as widely as possible.