Digital Restoration: AI Guarding Cultural Heritage

16:00 — 17:00 (May 23)
New Treryakov Gallery
Small Hall

#museum_and_creative_industries
#restoration


Case Study Presentation

Modern technologies are redefining restoration: neural networks now predict the deterioration of historical monuments, 3D models preserve authenticity, and digital twins have become vital tools for safeguarding UNESCO World Heritage sites. Russian museums and research centres already leverage AI for diverse applications — from analysing the wooden structures of Kizhi Pogost to restoring ancient frescoes. Yet how can we harmonize algorithms with the expertise of restorers, for whom every detail represents living history?
Digital tools aren’t replacing master artisans — they are creating new possibilities. These technologies capture vanishing details, simulate preservation scenarios, and engage audiences through immersive experiences. But the fundamental debate persists: what proves more reliable — millennia of accumulated craftsmanship or the power of Big Data?

• Bridging past and future: How do neural networks become co-authors of restoration without diminishing the value of manual craftsmanship?
• Can AI truly become a "successor" to restoration experts — or will it remain just a tool?
• How can we ensure digital methods don’t compromise authenticity?
• Who bears responsibility for algorithmic errors: developers, museums, or governments?

Speakers:
Elena Bogdanova, Director, Kizhi State Open-Air Museum of History, Architecture and Ethnography
Tatyana Andreeva, Deputy Director for Development, Tsarskoye Selo State Museum-Reserve