GLAMCoCreation/PTT-Archive
PTT Archive meets Wikipedia: Telephone directory stories from the past. The CoCreation project brings together artists and Wikipedia volunteers who will jointly dedicate a one-day workshop to the telephone directory holdings of the PTT Archive in Berne.
Exhibition vernissage, May 19th, 2026
[edit]The exhibition "PTT Archive meets Wikipedia: Telephone directory stories from the past" will take place at the Museum for Communication in Bern, and will present original work created by artists based on the archive materials from the PTT Archive during two "CoCreation" workshops organized by Wikimedia CH in 2025 and 2026. It takes place in the frame of the International Museum Day 2026.
The POP-UP exhibition will be presented in the Museum for Communication starting on May 19th, 2026 at 12:30 and run until May 29th, 2026.
- Date of the vernissage (opening day): Tuesday, May 19th, 2026
- Venue: Museum für Kommunikation, Helvetiastrasse 16, 3000 Bern. Information and reservation: +41 31 357 55 55
- Free entrance for Wikipedians
- Program:
- Opening hours for the analog exhibition in the Stamps Room: May 19th from 12:30 to 17:00
- Presentation of the exhibition and the artworks by the artists: May 19th at 12:30 in the Stamps Room
- Exploring the artwork and archives through a VR experience: 15-min slots (reservation needed by calling the Museum), from 10:30 to 12:30, then 14:00 to 16:00. In the entrance area of the exhibition.
- Editathon to reuse the artworks on the Wikimedia projects: from 14:00 to 17:00 in the Stamps Room.
.jpg)
Browse more files in the Commons category: GLAMCoCreationPTT-Archive
The archive houses around 7,500 linear metres of archive and library documents on the history of Swiss Post, telegraphy and telephony (Swisscom). Some of the archive documents have been digitised and are publicly accessible via the archive's website. In particular, 635 telephone directories from all regions of Switzerland are available there and contain thousands of telephone numbers and contacts. The entries from the end of the 19th to the middle of the 20th century not only offer an insight into the communication landscape of Switzerland, but also tell family biographies and the stories of companies and businesses.
In 2022, the production of the analogue telephone directory was discontinued and replaced by online search engines and platforms. This gives the archiving of the telephone directory a new meaning. What does it mean to still have a landline these days? What would happen if we called the numbers from the archived telephone directories? The project is an invitation to reflect on the changes in forms of communication and media and to integrate the materials in the archive into Wikipedia. The results will be presented at the PTT Archive.
Preparation of the exhibition, May 18-19, 2026
[edit]These activities are reserved to the artists who attended the previous workshop and created artworks for the exhibition: Medea7, Melamaria, Kunstwirkt, Salome Boy and Lalelimone.
- Meeting point: Museum für Kommunikation, Helvetiastrasse 16, 3000 Bern
- Program for Monday, May 18th:
- 10:00 to 16:00: set up of the exhibition. Lunch included.
- Program for Tuesday, May 19th:
- 11:30: Early lunch at the Museum's café
- 12:30: Presentation of your work and opening of the analog exhibition in the Stamps Room
- 14:00 to 17:00: Editathon to reuse the artworks on the Wikimedia projects
| Past events |
|---|
Event on March 27th, 2026[edit]Venues[edit]
Program[edit]
Participants[edit]Outcomes[edit]
Event on May 7th, 2025[edit]Program[edit]
Github repository[edit]participation[edit]
results[edit]Commons-Files[edit]Commons category:GLAMCoCreationPTT-Archive |