Activating open solutions for more equitable access to heritage in the digital environment

Too often, access to heritage is blocked by unnecessary barriers, from wrongful copyright claims and technological locks to prohibitive fees. These obstacles prevent people from meaningfully connecting with their own history, leaving critical pieces of our shared culture out of reach. Yet, access to heritage is vital for cultural participation, creativity, and sustainable development. The Open Heritage Statement is a collective response to these barriers. Developed by the TAROCH Coalition (Towards a Recommendation on Open Cultural Heritage), convened by Creative Commons, it unites more than 60 organizations across 25 countries and 13 global networks. The Statement supports UNESCO's efforts to promote open access to cultural heritage in line with its normative work on cultural rights, digital transformation, knowledge sharing for sustainable development, and its founding commitment to the free flow of ideas. In this presentation, we will talk about the various barriers to access and share examples of good practice to remove them, and call on interested parties to sign the Open Heritage Statement and promote its wide adoption.