There is no denying that the majority of us are now very online. We may visit galleries, museums and bookstores, but we also consume a lot of culture digitally. Whether news articles or podcasts or #booktok, where we choose to spend our time online is very important. Here, we round up some of the best cultural heritage sites on the world wide web.
We’ve taken a wide-angled approach to cultural heritage here. Whether it be preserving particular stories or introducing new ways of looking at history, these websites are a welcome treasure trove of cultural information. Many use technology to their advantage, wielding beautiful graphics or exciting video elements, while others take a more community-led approach; gathering testimonials and personal stories to create a time capsule of cultural preservation.
A beautiful example of a website made entirely of user contributions. From the archipelago of Fiji (‘where I laid in a hammock with the first girl I ever loved, on an island too small for maps’) to central Angola (“queer people exist here. you are not alone”), Queering the Map highlights the universality of the queer experience.
Again relying on input from the community, Native Land Digital is a database of Indigenous communities around the world. Covering territories, languages and treaties, this is a great resource for anyone looking to find out more about the geographic landscape of various peoples.
Aimed at teaching the history of women in computer technology, No Web Without Women is a slick, easy to use site that includes short biographies of many important women. The women range from the more well-known such as Ada Lovelace, to the less celebrated, such as the inventor of the word processor, Evelyn Berezin.
Google Arts & Culture has lots of fascinating content ranging across a wide range of themes and geographies. But we were particularly drawn to Pakistan’s Museum of Food. Created in collaboration with SOC Films's SOCH Foundation and supported by the British Council, this website combines video interviews with people in the food industry, from chefs to fishermen, with informative articles and easy to follow recipes.
Ok, this one is a little different. Rather than preserving or amplifying a particular culture or community, Gapminder serves the purpose of fighting misconceptions and promotes a fact-based worldview that everyone can understand. Using compelling data visualisations and fun quizzes, Gapminder tackles serious subjects easily and helps visitors to question their own biases.
Make sure you’re following us on social media and let us know of other websites that you think fit the bill!
