We are excited to announce the launch of the DIGHT-Net project, an initiative aimed at strengthening Tallinn University’s research in digital cultural heritage through international collaboration.

The project’s kick-off event will take place on 10–11 October 2024 at Tallinn University’s Mare building and the Academic Library’s Centre for Digitisation. Over two days, scholars from across Europe will gather to discuss cutting-edge approaches to preserving and utilising digital cultural heritage.

Key sessions include a welcome presentation by Marek Tamm, Professor of Cultural History at TLU and leader of the project, along with the launch of the DIGHT-Net website. Welcoming remarks will be delivered remotely by David Monteiro, the European Commission Project Officer. The Work Package leaders will present the main aims and activities of the project. On the second day, Indrek Ibrus, Professor of Media Innovation at TLU, will deliver a keynote lecture on the role of knowledge graphs in studying and creating culture. A panel of junior researchers will present innovative perspectives on topics such as digitising and decolonising cultural heritage, spatial cultural data analysis, and AI-generated imagery.

The event will also include guided tours of the Centre for Digitisation at Tallinn University, as well as opportunities for discussions and networking with international scholars from the University of Amsterdam, the University of Bologna, and the University of Turku.

Preliminary programme of the event

10 October
Tallinn University
Uus-Sadama 5
M-649

13.30–14.00: Gathering, welcome coffee
14.00–14.30: Marek Tamm (TLU): Welcome, project presentation and website launch
14.30–14.45: David Monteiro (EC Project Officer): Greetings (remotely)
14.45–15.15: Daniele Monticelli (TLU): Presentation of WP1
15.15–15.45: Merit Maran (TLU): Presentation of WP2
15.45–16.15: Coffee break
16.15–16.45: Ihab Saloul (UvA): Presentation of WP3
16.45–17.15: Francesco Mazzuchelli (UNIBO): Presentation of WP4
17.15–17.45: Hannu Salmi (UTU): Presentation of WP5
17.45–18.15: Marek Tamm (TLU): Presentation of WP6

11 October
Tallinn University Academic Library, Centre for Digitization
Rävala puiestee 10
6^th floor

10.30–11.00: Welcome coffee and introduction
11.00–12.15: Indrek Ibrus (TLU): The role of knowledge graphs in studying and making culture
12.15–13.30: Lunch
13.30–14.00: Guided tour at TLU Centre for Digitisation (Peeter Kondratjev, TLU)
14.00–15.15: Panel of junior researchers:

• Martina Grinello (UNIBO): Digitising/decolonising cultural heritage
• Mark Mets (TLU): Spatial cultural data analysis: bridging Lotman and computational methods
• Marjolein Uittenbogaard (TLU/UvA): Digital heritage and diasporic storytelling: A preliminary inquiry into the digitalization of the Srebrenica Memorial Center
• Yan Asadchy (TLU): Beautiful women and brutal men: stereotypical gendered portrayals in AI-generated images

15.15–15.45: Coffee break
15.45–18.30: Discussion on the DIGHT-Net project aims and activities