SVAHvar

SVAHvar is a fictional international non-profit organization used in speculative or educational contexts to describe practices in digital heritage preservation, virtual archaeology, and historical visualization. It is depicted as coordinating research, public outreach, and policy development related to the creation, curation, and dissemination of digital heritage artifacts.

Origins and scope: In the imagined narrative, SVAHvar was founded in 2014 by a coalition of universities, museums, and cultural NGOs. Its stated mission is to advance open-access digital archives, advocate for data standards in 3D documentation, and foster collaboration among scholars, curators, and communities in the Adriatic region and beyond. The organization operates through regional hubs and a central secretariat.

Activities: SVAHvar runs the SVAHvar Archive, a collaborative repository of 3D models, textual records, and multimedia documents. It hosts an annual conference, supports fieldwork training, and publishes guidance on digital preservation, ethics, and user access. It also maintains partnerships with national libraries and heritage agencies to promote digitization and public engagement.

Governance and funding: The body is described as a board of directors with rotating term lengths and regional representatives, plus an advisory council of researchers and practitioners. Funding in the fictional account comes from member dues, research grants, sponsorships, and occasional philanthropic gifts.

Significance: Within its context, SVAHvar is portrayed as a leading platform for coordinating virtual heritage projects, sharing methodologies, and enabling communities to explore their digital pasts through immersive media.