The National Museum of the Czech Republic has long been involved in the protection of cultural heritage in regions beset by crisis, including contributions to the rescue of monuments in Syria, Afghanistan and Sudan. It has also contributed to the restoration of collections damaged by an earthquake in Croatia as well as a fire in Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Museum has been providing assistance to Ukrainian museums and cultural institutions, through material aid,public fundraising, and professional cooperation.
The Ark III project marks a new approach to protecting cultural heritage in wartime. This mobile workstation allows for the digitisation of objects of various sizes directly within institutions as well as in the field – from small artefacts to large-scale objects. This process creates accurate digital replicas that can be used for documentation, research, and, where needed, the future restoration of damaged monuments.
“The National Museum is helping in Ukraine through concrete actions. From the very first days of the war, we have sought to support our Ukrainian colleagues, who are protecting their cultural heritage with extraordinary courage and dedication under daily threat. The Ark III project is an important step in this support, bringing modern technologies directly to where they are most needed. We greatly appreciate the support of the Karel Komárek Family Foundation, thanks to which this project could be realised. In the coming days, I will personally hand over this project in Kyiv, as an expression of respect and solidarity with those who are safeguarding cultural values that go beyond the borders of a single country,” says Michal Lukeš, Director General of the National Museum of the Czech Republic.
“It is unacceptable for Ukraine to lose the most valuable elements of its national identity as a result of Russian aggression. Through the Ark project, we have responded to the urgent need to protect Ukrainian cultural heritage while joining forces with institutions that have the knowledge and experience necessary to achieve a shared goal: preserving the historical memory of the Ukrainian nation. The partnership between the private and public sectors has proven to be highly productive in this case. Its outcomes have a lasting character and can serve as a model for similar solutions in turbulent times, when the protection of culture should not become a marginal issue,” says Luboš Veselý, Director of the Karel Komárek Family Foundation.
The mobile digitisation unit is built on a Volkswagen Crafter chassis and equipped with state-of-the-art 3D scanners and photogrammetric systems. The technology was developed by experts from the National Museum of the Czech Republic specifically for the digitisation of collection objects under crisis conditions.
The collected data are stored in a secure cloud environment and made accessible through specialised interfaces. This allows experts to study the objects in detail, compare them, and use the data further in scientific research and museum practice. The project also includes training for Ukrainian specialists who will operate the technology in the field.
The Ark III unit will be deployed across Ukraine, particularly in war-affected areas. The vehicle will be handed over to the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, which has been entrusted by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine with coordinating the protection of cultural heritage. The project thus contributes not only to the immediate protection of monuments, but also to their future restoration.
At the same time, using funds from the National Recovery Plan, the National Museum has developed a second version of this technology that will remain in the Czech Republic. In this capacity, it will serve the needs of the National Museum and will also be ready for deployment in the protection of endangered cultural heritage both domestically and abroad.
