Free Knowledge Africa is proud to announce that we have signed the Open Heritage Statement, a global call to action launched by Creative Commons and the TAROCH Coalition (Towards a Recommendation on Open Cultural Heritage). This statement is now open for signature by governments, organizations, and institutions worldwide.
This statement, developed by more than 60 organizations across 25 countries in the TAROCH Coalition and convened by Creative Commons, establishes a unified vision for a future where our collective heritage is openly accessible, discoverable, and reusable in the digital environment.
Why the Open Heritage Statement Matters
Access to heritage is integral to the fundamental right to participate in cultural life, essential to protect cultural and linguistic diversity. This is a key pillar of sustainable development and is necessary to sustain democratic societies. Yet much of our shared heritage remains inaccessible in the digital environment due to unnecessary barriers. Only about 1% of cultural heritage institutions currently share their collections openly; for most institutions, providing open, equitable access remains a challenge.
Our commitment to the Open Heritage Statement is a natural extension of our core work. At Free Knowledge Africa, we are dedicated to promoting open access to knowledge, culture, and educational resources across the continent. We believe that the rich and diverse heritage of Africa should not only be preserved but also actively shared and engaged with by its people and the world.
This initiative aligns perfectly with our projects to digitize and promote African cultural materials, support open education, and build a more equitable digital commons. It provides a powerful international framework to amplify our efforts and connect them to a wider movement.
By signing the Open Heritage Statement, we are joining Creative Commons, the TAROCH Coalition, and a growing number of global organizations that strive to ensure equitable access to heritage in the digital environment. We hope to unlock its potential to spark creativity, fuel education and research, uphold cultural rights, and build sustainable futures.
Join us in this movement
The launch of the Open Heritage Statement marks a critical step towards a more open and equitable future for our shared history. We invite other governments, institutions, and organizations across Africa and beyond to add their voices and help build this global momentum.
You can read and add your organization’s voice here: openheritagestatement.org.
