More information
Description
CSOs in Croatia often lack human and financial capacities to systematize their organizational memory and transfer it to younger generations or present it publicly, which is particularly important in case of CSOs catering to minority and vulnerable groups. In order to address this problem the partners jointly implement the project aimed at CSOs and decision-makers in order to:
- establish a functional advocacy platform of independent archives and libraries
- raise awareness in the interested and wider public of the importance of organizational memory for strengthening the role of civil society in the community
- influence the institutional framework for the improvement of the care of CSOs organizational memory
This will be achieved by:
- establishing and working of the advocacy platform that will conduct researches and create a white paper which will serve as the basis for the advocacy process
creating a manual for self-archiving as an online resource of innovative methodology whose purpose is to activate CSOs organizational memory for community building; and conducting a media campaign presenting how care for organizational memory directly contributes to community building
- organizing meetings with local and national decision makers and public events for advocacy purposes
The project will result in an increased number of CSOs that participate in the advocacy platform’s work and in utilization of the manual for the community development and building. The manual’s methodology enables transfer of knowledge and experiences among CSOs, greater visibility of their communities, inclusion of younger generations of activist and volunteers in the work of CSOs, and connection to other communities, all which has a clear multiplication effect. Hence, the project contributes to strengthening civil society in Croatia.
Summary of project results
The project "Bottom-up Archives – organizational memory as the element of civil society sustainability" aimed to address the challenges civil society organizations face in preserving their organizational memory. Organizational memory includes everything created through their work: projects, experiences, successes, failures, and the materials that reflect these efforts. Many organizations overlook the importance of this memory until there’s a generational shift or an anniversary, at which point they realize the value of what they’ve accumulated over time. This memory is particularly significant as it includes practices and materials related to gender, national, and other minority groups, which need to be made accessible to the public to ensure knowledge transfer to future generations of activists, researchers, and artists.
Despite the cultural and social significance of these materials, many organizations either lack awareness or the resources to systematically manage their archives. Due to the focus on creating new activities, organizations often lose valuable archival material. While the civil society sector recognizes the need for documentation and digital preservation, organizational memory isn''t acknowledged within the legal frameworks that govern archival practices or civil society development.
The project responded to this issue by advocating for greater awareness and support for archiving, which would include financial incentives, education on systematization, and providing storage spaces. This effort would make civil society organizations more sustainable, help preserve their impact, and ensure that their work is recognized and contextualized within broader historical and community narratives. Long-term, the project aimed to expand an advocacy platform formed in 2015 to include more organizations, both geographically and across different fields, to ensure the continued development of independent archives and libraries.
The project focused on enhancing the institutional framework and organizational capacity for documenting the work of civil society organizations (CSOs). It established an active advocacy platform of nine CSOs, including the implementing organizations Kulturtreger and Kurziv, which together developed the Independent Culture Documentation Center. As a result of the project activities, the platform expanded to include nine more organizations, totaling 18. A mailing list was created for all members, serving as a communication hub for future joint efforts, especially for advocacy purposes and monitoring local public policies.
The project conducted a mapping and research activity that involved 70 CSOs across Croatia to assess their needs and resources. Based on this research and a review of the public policy and legal framework for independent archives and libraries, an advocacy document was created. This document was used to advocate for policy changes, with nine submissions sent to national and local decision-makers. The project team held eight meetings with officials, including representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Media and local governments in Zagreb, Dubrovnik, and Pula, among others.
Public advocacy efforts included roundtable discussions in several Croatian cities gathering local CSOs, experts, and the public. Additionally, an international conference was held in Zagreb, gathering over 50 experts, activists, and decision-makers to discuss organizational memory. The project collaborated with 30 organizations and gained recognition by presenting its work at a symposium organized by the Croatian Association of Disabled Persons.
As a valuable resporce on self-archiving a manual on organizational archiving was developed and published as an online resource, with tools for CSOs to activate their organizational memory. The website where the manual is published received over 40,000 visits.
As a part of organizational development activities, Kulturtreger created a strategic plan for 2023-2027, and Kurziv conducted three capacity-building workshops for platform members. An advocacy workshop was held, followed by a media campaign, "Archives to the Day Light (Arhive na sunce)," which aimed to raise public awareness about the importance of organizational memory and the role of CSOs in community development. This campaign reached hundreds of thousands of people via social media, videos, and infographics.
Finally, interviews with key figures from various international and local organizations provided valuable insights into community archives, helping to contextualize the challenges and solutions for preserving organizational memory. The project also released several publications, analyses, and articles to inform and engage a broader audience.
The project achieved substantial results by increasing awareness, fostering collaboration, expanding its advocacy platform, and providing practical tools to help civil society organizations (CSOs) preserve their organizational memory. These accomplishments have benefited the participating organizations, the wider community, future generations, decision-makers, and the public.
One of the key achievements was the strengthening of collaboration among CSOs. This was done through the establishment of an advocacy platform focused on independent archives and libraries. The platform expanded to include nine new members, bringing the total to 18 organizations. A final conference brought together over 50 experts and participants from the community archiving field, including representatives from the Croatian State Archives, public institutions, decision-makers, and academia. This collective effort underscored the importance of preserving the work and history of CSOs, while raising public awareness about the value of organizational memory in strengthening the role of civil society.
Many organizations involved in the project became newly aware that their routine work in collecting and documenting materials is part of archiving. This awareness highlighted the long-term importance of preserving organizational memory, especially for future generations and those working in the civil society sector. By recognizing this, organizations realized that their archival efforts contribute to sustainability and prevent them from needing to constantly reinvent their work. As a result, the project encouraged continuous development and improvement of good practices.
The project also led to greater visibility for organizations involved in preserving their organizational memory. A dedicated mailing list was set up to support future collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and resource exchanges. In total, over 20 CSOs participated, many of whom had not previously considered the importance of preserving their own organizational memory. Through their participation, these organizations found support for continuing their archiving activities and discovered the relevance of their work for transmitting knowledge across generations, especially for marginalized or minority groups.
The project further strengthened the institutional framework for preserving organizational memory by engaging with national and local decision-makers. Meetings organized with decision-makers resulted in positive feedback as the policymakers supported the inclusion of documentation and archiving costs in public funding calls for CSOs. This development laid the groundwork for advocating the societal value of archiving practices and emphasized the importance of transferring knowledge across generations in the civil society sector.
Collaboration with archival experts also broadened the project’s scope and enabled new forms of cooperation between institutional and non-institutional sectors. These experts provided valuable input during public events and strengthened the case for supporting archiving initiatives within civil society.
One of the final key outcomes of the project was the creation of an online manual for self-archiving. This resource was designed to help CSOs with limited experience or capacity in organizing and preserving their documentation. The manual offers practical guidance and promotes the engagement of communities in safeguarding organizational memory. By improving knowledge and practices, it supports the introduction of better organizational memory management within CSOs and fosters continued growth and sustainability.
Through these achievements, the project has made lasting contributions to the civil society sector, empowering organizations to preserve their legacies and strengthening their role in the community.