A number of the world's most influential organizations in 'culture' have together formed an alliance, the Inter-organizational group on archives at risk, or IAR. The organizations concerned are the United Nations, UNESCO, the International Federation of Television and radio Archives FIAT, and the World Broadcasting Unions (which are represented by the EBU).
Lost to the world?
Their objective is to sensitize the world to the need to act quickly to preserve the massive stores of audio/visual archives which are turning to dust in many parts of the world, many in broadcasters' premises, largely because of poor storage conditions. The IAR hopes to encourage projects which will help turn around the situation across the globe.
| The project's website acts as a shop window of the issues, and gives some examples of archives from European broadcasters which are seen as cultural-defining. The plan for the website is that broadcasters from all over the world are being asked to submit up to ten clips, which they believe reflect their nation's culture well. The 'moral' of the web site is that such archives are very well worth preserving, and should form part of our cultural heritage in the decades to come….unless they are lost to the world. |  |
Archives in peril
There are archives in peril in all parts of the world, including Europe and other developed countries. A survey of the world's broadcasters found many similar problems such as humidity and temperature extremes. As well as the deterioration of tape and film itself, across the world there is a shortage of facilities to play all but the most recent video tape formats, and particularly early material recorded on two-inch tapes. Those companies that do have 2" players, find themselves with no means to repair faults. There is a price to be paid for progress in tape formats.
The IAR also passes on knowledge of digitization of archives, drawing on the work of a former EC Project, Prestospace. The President of the IAR Sponsors Group is Emmanuel Hoog, President of the INA in France, and the President of the IAR is Herbert Hayduck ORF, who is also Chair of FIAT/IFTA. The EBU is represented by David Wood.