Computational Approaches to Cultural Heritage Image Collections
8. October 2026
This practical workshop introduces participants to computational approaches in the Digital Humanities through programmatic access and analysis of cross-institutional European cultural heritage image collections. Drawing inspiration from the concept of “distant reading,” the session explores how algorithms can be employed to “read” and interpret collections of visual and cultural data at scale. Participants will engage directly with image metadata in the IIIF standard and explore how semantic search can operationalize notions of similarity, for categorization and retrieval in visual data. By reflecting on both the affordances and limitations of such algorithmic readings, the session offers a first, hands-on sense of how computational methods might complement traditional art-historical and cultural-analytical practices.
An apéro will follow the workshop!
When: November 11, 2026, 14:00 – 16:00
Where: University of Zurich, Main Building, KOL-N-1, Rämistrasse 71, 8006 Zurich
Registration: Link