On 15th April, 2025, Foundation for Landscape Protection (FOK) conducted a dedicated workshop in Budapest as part of the SAGA project, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme. The event was specifically organized for the project partners, with a focus on archival institutions involved in SAGA.
The workshop, led by Anna Kraszewska and Mateusz Binda from FOK, with the special participation of Riccardo Cacciotti from ITAM CAS (Czech Republic), addressed key aspects of risk and vulnerability assessment in archival buildings. This activity forms a crucial part of the broader effort within the project to evaluate and improve the resilience of archival infrastructure in the face of both natural and man-made hazards.
The training began with an in-depth presentation on the concept of vulnerability and its practical implications in the context of archival preservation. The FOK team introduced a comprehensive methodology designed to assess risks, vulnerabilities and resilience levels in heritage buildings, which will be implemented across participating archival institutions.
The workshop provided a step-by-step guide on how to independently conduct such evaluations, equipping participants with the knowledge and tools to identify threats ranging from structural degradation to natural disasters and human-caused damage. As outlined in the SAGA project’s action plan, understanding these risks is vital for prioritizing future conservation efforts and preventive maintenance.
In the second part of the session, FOK presented a detailed timeline for the implementation of the risk assessment activity, including proposed deadlines for each stage. The session concluded with an overview of the key documents that will be produced as outcomes of the task: individual building evaluations, risk maps and recommendations for action plans tailored to specific archival contexts.
This workshop marks a significant step towards building a transnational roadmap for archival resilience. Supported by FOK, national archives within the SAGA consortium will develop strategies to mitigate risks.
By supporting archival institutions in understanding and responding to their vulnerabilities, the SAGA project continues to lay the groundwork for more sustainable and disaster-resilient heritage preservation
