The Open Archive Portal Network is an internationally federated network based in Geneva, Switzerland that represents innovative open archive photo history portals across the world. Our goals:

Preserving and sharing meaningful vernacular photographs: We all started our separate public portal initiatives to fill a clear public need that wasn’t being met by established institutions in our respective countries. In preserving, displaying, and sharing local artifacts (mostly photographs), we are enabling stories about everyday life and cultural heritage. We believe family and local history is history, and our projects are igniting public memory through our innovative platforms and tools. 

Digital innovation: We have all designed mapping, timeline, exhibit, and navigation platforms that organize cultural heritage in terms of place, time, and theme, with an eye on user experience and community engagement. We have gained significant experience in serving local communities and user interface design that makes sense to everyday people. 

Collaboration:  Our projects exist in many different countries (currently across Europe, the U.S., and South America). We are joining forces to make our individual projects more sustainable: By establishing the OPAN federation based in Geneva, Switzerland, we are expanding our network, finding paths for funding, sharing code and interface designs, and sharing best practices.

Please feel free to join us.

Open Platform Archive Network (OPAN)

Org chart

Teams

Offices

Open Platform Archive Network (OPAN)

Org chart

Teams

Offices

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