The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is observed on 27 October to raise awareness about the significance and preservation risks of audiovisual materials.
Audiovisual archives serve as powerful storytellers, capturing the lives, cultures and histories of people from all over the world. They represent a priceless heritage which is an affirmation of our collective memory and a valuable 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 it remains accessible to the public and future generations is thus vital. Historically, information was preserved through photographs, sheet music and books. Modern technology has revolutionised this process, allowing us to now record and share important moments through sound and video using different apps. Platforms like music streaming services, video-sharing sites and social media act as modern-day archives, storing a wide variety of audiovisuals.
The EU utilises different platforms and depositories for storing and sharing audiovisual content. Among them, the Audiovisual Library of the European Commission functions as central deposit for audiovisual materials 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 both English and French. Since 1948, the library has catalogued over 250 000 videos, 500 000 photos and 8 500 audio recordings, covering all major steps of EU history. The collection continues to grow and is accessible to the public via the Audiovisual Portal.
In addition, Europeana is a web portal that aggregates audiovisual materials from over 2000 different institutions across Europe. This includes libraries, museums, archives, galleries and others, offering its users a unique opportunity to access a diverse range of content online.
The EU is committed to safeguarding and enhancing Europe’s cultural heritage through numerous policies and programmes. By preserving audiovisual heritage such as films, recordings, and photographs, we ensure that future generations can experience the richness of our shared past. Protecting audiovisual heritage is not just about safeguarding memories, but about keeping cultural diversity alive and accessible for all.
For more information
European Commission’s Audiovisual Service
The Audiovisual Library: Europe’s living audiovisual memory (video)
