Audiovisual records are an integral part of our contemporary life and culture. Yet audiovisual materials around the world are at risk due to deterioration, technological obsolescence or damage from natural and other disasters. This is especially true of such records housed in heritage institutions with mixed collections.

Furthermore, many heritage institutions have little or no experience with digitization of audiovisual materials, and opportunities for continued training of non-specialist professionals in this area are few and far between.

In the last Biennium, ICCROM in collaboration with various partners launched an international action to safeguard collections of audiovisual materials in heritage institutions.

Through an experts meeting organized at ICCROM in June 2006, three main project priorities were identified: training of non-specialist professionals; increasing awareness about the fragility of audiovisual materials; and bridging knowledge and information gaps.

updated on: 2 June, 2009