A new chapter in the preservation of humanity’s digital heritage has begun with the establishment of the Arctic World Archive Foundation, an independent, non-profit, and self-owning foundation under Norwegian law.
Its purpose is to secure the long-term, independent management and sustainability of the Arctic World Archive (AWA) - a global initiative dedicated to safeguarding the world’s digital memory for future generations.
A Permanent Home for the World’s Digital Heritage
Established in 2017 by Piql AS, the Arctic World Archive has become a global symbol of trust, neutrality, and long-term digital preservation. Located deep inside a decommissioned mine in Svalbard, AWA provides a secure, future-proof vault for digital data - safe from natural disasters and cyberattacks.
Today, AWA is recognized worldwide as a unique initiative for safeguarding digital cultural heritage, art, history, literature, research, and documentation of global significance.
With the establishment of the Arctic World Archive Foundation, this mission is now secured for generations to come—under a non-commercial and neutral structure dedicated to the public good.
Founders and Governance
The foundation was established by Rune Bjerkestrand and Katrine Loen both central to the creation and growth of AWA.
Purpose and Vision
Together, we preserve humanity’s knowledge and creativity - to build peace and inspire generations.
The Arctic World Archive Foundation has a clear and enduring mandate:
- Preserve and protect the world’s digital heritage for all future generations.
- Ensure perpetual access to authentic data in a secure and neutral archive.
- Support those without means to preserve their valuable data—such as cultural institutions, indigenous communities, and civil society organizations.
A Foundation for Future Generations
The creation of the Arctic World Archive Foundation marks a new chapter in the preservation of humanity’s collective memory. By separating AWA from commercial ownership and placing it under a permanent, non-profit governance model, the foundation ensures that the world’s data heritage will remain safe, accessible, and authentic—forever.
"Our goal is to ensure that humanity’s digital memory endures for millennia—independent, secure, and accessible to future generations."
About the Arctic World Archive
The Arctic World Archive (AWA) is a secure, long-term data preservation facility located in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway. Built to withstand the test of time and global uncertainty, AWA stores digital treasures from around the world, ranging from the Vatican Library to the Norwegian National Museum, GitHub’s open-source codebase, and many others.
AWA uses piqlFilm, a unique storage medium designed to last for centuries, bridging the gap between analog durability and digital access.
For more information, please contact:
Arctic World Archive Foundation STI
Drammen, Norway
arcticworldarchive.org
info@arcticworldarchive.org
