The Advancing FAIR+CARE Practices in Cultural Heritage project was funded in 2023 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to address the challenges between two key data management frameworks: CARE (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, Ethics) and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). The project seeks to bring these principles together by developing ethical guidelines and governance models that integrate both, improving the quality and reuse of cultural heritage data while minimizing harm and promoting equitable participation.
Undertaking this work over three years is a network of approximately 45 individuals from universities, libraries, museums, tribes, publishers, federal and state agencies, cultural resource management, and organizations for archaeological data management– togethering making up the FAIR+CARE Cultural Heritage Network. At its first workshop in October of 2024 (Fig. 1), the network came together for the first time in person to discuss discipline-wide awareness of FAIR and CARE practices and plan outreach and adoption activities for 2025. Through presentations and breakout sessions, participants discussed challenges such as building trust with Indigenous communities, developing training resources, and capacity-building.
A major focus of discussions over two and a half days was what implementing FAIR in collaboration with CARE looks like. There is no “full” implementation of FAIR and CARE together; rather, FAIR and CARE practices are mutually supportive in different ways. The specific manner in which these frameworks can be used will depend on the nature of the data, their provenance, and their related communities. These conversations are additionally opening space to consider how African diaspora, Latin American, and Asian American communities can develop data governance practices and processes appropriate for their heritage data.
While it may seem obvious to some, we often need reminders that FAIR does not require sharing everything with everyone! Combining elements of CARE and FAIR practices can enable cross-cultural collaborations, shared understanding about data sensitivities, and consensus in how to equitable use data for research, community engagement, and conservation outcomes.
Key goals for this project in 2025 include creating a media kit, conducting focus groups, drafting data commitments, and developing an assessment tool for data management. These activities are designed to further embed CARE and FAIR principles into cultural heritage practices, expanding the network’s reach and ensuring long-term impact beyond the three-year term of the grant.
Looking ahead, the network will focus on expanding outreach, hosting additional webinars, and developing tools to support Indigenous leadership in cultural data management. By fostering trust and inclusion and building long-term sustainability, the network aims to reshape the field of archaeology, ensuring that Indigenous and descendant communities lead in preserving and managing their cultural heritage. Find out more about this work on the project’s webpage.
