Preserve what defines us — our stories, knowledge, and identity. Arctic World Archive helps organizations secure their most valuable cultural heritage for future generations.
We protect cultural heritage in its most essential form: long-term, offline, and future-proof.
The Arctic World Archive offers a unique solution for cultural heritage preservation — storing digital
records on ultra-durable piqlFilm, inside a secure vault in the Arctic permafrost.
No electricity. No
internet. No risk of deletion.
If your mission is to protect culture — we help make it last for
centuries.
The Arctic World Archive began in 2017 as a bold initiative by Norwegian tech company Piql: to preserve humanity’s most valuable cultural data in the Arctic, using ultra-durable film stored deep inside a former Svalbard coal mine.
In 2025, AWA became an independent foundation — ensuring neutrality, transparency, and global stewardship.
Our mission is simple:
Preserve the world’s cultural heritage — securely, sustainably, and accessibly for future generations.
Because the past deserves a future, we safeguard digital cultural heritage from cyberattacks, obsolescence, electromagnetic pulses, and digital degradation for:
Archives safeguard centuries of administrative, historical, and private records that form the backbone of collective memory. From handwritten manuscripts to born-digital files, archivists face increasing pressure to preserve fragile originals while managing digital transformation.
Libraries are more than repositories of books — they are hubs of knowledge, education, and community identity. As collections move from print to digital, libraries face the dual challenge of conserving rare physical works and safeguarding growing digital holdings.
Museums and galleries curate cultural treasures and artistic heritage, from ancient artifacts to modern art. Beyond physical conservation, they are increasingly digitizing collections to expand access and mitigate risk.
Architectural heritage reflects creativity and social history. Preserving blueprints, design archives, and digital reconstructions is essential to protect and study built heritage over time.
Archaeology uncovers our shared past through excavation records, site data, photographs, and research documentation. However, these assets are often fragmented, vulnerable, or stored in short-lived digital environments.
Historic monuments are tangible anchors of cultural identity. Preserving their legacy involves safeguarding documentation: restoration records, digital surveys, and archival photographs.
The Vatican Library built on its previous deposit with more ancient manuscripts, making it the Archive’s largest contributor. The 60...
Vatican Library
The Fryderyk Chopin Institute is preserving not only the notes of Chopin’s music but the soul of his creative journey in AWA.
The Fryderyk Chopin Institute
The National Museum in Oslo exhibits Norway's largest collection of art, architecture and design. The museum holds a significant collection...
National Museum of Norway