AM is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Galt Museum & Archives supporting a pioneering international initiative for cultural heritage preservation in Ukraine.

The AM Archival School for Ukraine, a week-long summer school developed by Andrew Chernevych, Head Archivist and Galt Museum & Archives, will welcome 10 young professionals from various regions of Ukraine, including those heavily impacted by conflict, to collaborate and develop their archival knowledge with the support of professionals from a variety of institutions.

Originally piloted in 2023 by Chernevych and the International Council on Archives, the AM Archival School for Ukraine will be hosted by the renowned international archival repository of the Blinken OSA Archivum in Budapest, Hungary.

“I first came across AM 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. AM is the perfect partner for the summer school and in the development of young talent in Ukraine as an investment in a more dynamic and sustainable heritage industry in the country,” says Andrew Chernevych, Head Archivist, Galt Museum & Archives.

The programme will be delivered by an international contingent including Chernevych, Søren Bitsch Christensen, Aarhus City Archivist and Executive Board member of the International Council on Archives, and technical specialists from AM, and more. Across a week of sessions, the summer school will cover various aspects of archival practices and international collaboration including discussions on archival systems in Europe and insights into the International Council on Archives, engaging researchers through round table discussions, exploring reference service models, and discussing challenges faced by Ukrainian archives. The week also delves into the critical topic of archives under fire, examining Ukraine’s regional archives during wartime, emergency digitisation, and professional development.

“The AM Archival School for Ukraine brings together everything that we value as an organisation and speaks deeply to our mission and values. We’ve witnessed the devastating impact the conflict in Ukraine has had on the cultural heritage of the country. Through close collaboration with Andrew, the Galt Museum & Archives, the International Council on Archives, and the Blinken OSA we hope to be able to do our part to provide tools to the archivists working so hard to preserve the heritage of Ukraine,” says Martha Fogg, Managing Director, AM.

This collaborative endeavour underscores AM’s commitment to supporting current and future generations of archivists, scholars and researchers and the Galt Museum & Archives’ unwavering commitment to global cultural heritage and its role as a catalyst for positive change and sustainability.

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About AM

AM’s digital collections and technology platforms enrich the study, research and teaching of primary sources. AM works with libraries, archives and heritage institutions to digitise the world’s historical and cultural knowledge. With AM, customers can discover award-winning archival collections, learn how to use them, or create their own.

About Galt Museum & Archives

Galt Museum & Archives is the primary museum in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, and is the largest museum in the province south of Calgary. The archives contain an extensive collection of information on the human history of Lethbridge and southwestern Alberta. Today, the museum cares for well over 17,000 artifacts and more than 1 million archival documents and photographs. These collections continue to grow