The digital transformation of students’ family heritage begins at the Jaume Mimó Institute.

Carlo Bruno, president of Mubat and technical project leader of the Italgas Heritage Lab and nine other PNRR initiatives, brings his expertise in cultural heritage digitization to Barcelona.

An intensive workshop was held at a dedicated workstation set up for the occasion by the Jaume Mimó Institute. This workshop, prepared by Mubat, in collaboration with CDEC, Herìtage Lab and USQV, represents the contribution that the CERV Avalanche project offers to the two schools involved in a five days mobility in Barcelona for the Erasmus aMemoria project [http://erasmus.amemoria.cloud].

By building on the interest sparked by technological exploration, the workshop also tells the story of the Italian Campaign and the persecution of the Jews. The historical link between Spain and Italy is highlighted by Italy’s participation in the Spanish Civil War—officially, through the intervention of the Fascist regime, and on the opposing front, through the large number of Italian volunteers who fought alongside the Spanish resistance. This experience would precede, by a few years, the struggle for Italy’s Liberation.

A relevant historical topic has been the difference between the condition of Italian and Spanish Jews during World War II.Despite the absence of direct persecution such as deportation to extermination camps, the Spanish Jewish community faced an atmosphere of suspicion and discrimination. Jews were often the target of accusations and slander, and some were forced to give up their assets and property to escape persecution.

The workshop is focused on capture techniques and the use of the digital content produced. The overhead rig is equipped with an Olympus mirrorless camera, LED photographic lighting, and a Technink copy stand.

Twenty-four students take turns working at the station, which they will continue to use throughout this school year and the next to build a family historical database. Online courses are planned for the following phase of archival description.

The Erasmus project aMemoria leverages synergies with the CERV European Remembrance Avalanche project—funded by the European Union—which shares a common historical scope and technological goals, thanks to the collaboration between Mubat, the Italgas Heritage Lab, CDEC Milan and University of Versailles and Thessaloniki