World Audiovisual Heritage Day is celebrated on October 27 to raise awareness of the importance and risks of preserving audiovisual materials.
Audiovisual archives are powerful storytellers, capturing the lives, cultures and stories of people around the world. They represent an inestimable heritage which constitutes an affirmation of our collective memory and a precious source of knowledge, reflecting the cultural, social and linguistic diversity of our communities. These archives not only deepen our understanding of the past, but also help us appreciate the world we share today.
Conserving this rich heritage and ensuring that it remains accessible to the public and future generations is therefore vital. Historically, information was preserved through photographs, sheet music and books. Modern technology has revolutionized this process, now allowing us to record and share important moments via audio and video using different apps. Platforms such as music streaming services, video sharing sites and social networks act like modern archives, storing a wide variety of audiovisuals.
The UE uses different platforms and repositories to store and share audiovisual content. Among them, the Audiovisual Library of the European Commission acts as a central repository for audiovisual material intended for external communication, produced or purchased by Commission services. The library is responsible for the management, preservation and accessibility of the collective audiovisual memory of the European integration process, available in English and French. Since 1948, the library has cataloged more than 250,000 videos, 500,000 photos and 8,500 audio recordings, covering every major milestone in EU history. The collection continues to grow and is accessible to the public via the Audiovisual Portal.
In addition, European is a web portal that brings together audiovisual material from over 2000 different institutions across Europe. This includes libraries, museums, archives, galleries and others, providing its users with a unique opportunity to access a diverse range of online content.
The EU is committed to safeguarding and promoting European cultural heritage through numerous policies and programs. By preserving audiovisual heritage such as films, recordings and photographs, we ensure that future generations can discover the richness of our shared past. Protecting audiovisual heritage is not only about safeguarding memory, but also about keeping cultural diversity alive and accessible to all.
For more information
Audiovisual Service of the European Commission
Audiovisual Portal
The audiovisual library: the living audiovisual memory of Europe (video)
European
World Audiovisual Heritage Day
Originally published in The European Times.
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