World Audiovisual Heritage Day: Preserving meaningful moments

World Audiovisual Heritage Day is celebrated on October 27 to raise awareness about audiovisual heritage Importance and conservation risks of audiovisual materials.

Audiovisual archives serve as powerful storytellers, capturing the lives, cultures and histories of people around the world. They represent an invaluable heritage that is a confirmation 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.

It is therefore crucial to preserve this rich heritage and ensure that it remains accessible to the public and future generations. Historically, information was preserved through photographs, sheet music and books. Modern technology has revolutionized this process and now allows us to record and share important moments via sound and video using various apps. Platforms such as music streaming services, video sharing sites and social media act as modern archives, storing a wide variety of audiovisual media.

The EU uses various platforms and repositories to store and share audiovisual content. Among them are the European Commission Audiovisual Library acts as a central repository for audiovisual material intended for external communication produced or acquired 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 cataloged over 250,000 videos, 500,000 photos and 8,500 audio recordings, covering all major periods of EU history. The collection continues to grow and is accessible to the public via the Audiovisual Portal.

Additionally, Europeana is a web portal that brings together audiovisual materials from over 2000 different institutions across Europe. These include libraries, museums, archives, galleries and others, offering their users the unique opportunity to access a wide range of content online.

The EU is committed to protecting and enhancing Europe’s cultural heritage through numerous policies and programs. 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 preserving memories, but also about keeping cultural diversity alive and accessible to all.

More information

European Commission Audiovisual Service

Audiovisual portal

The Audiovisual Library: Europe’s Living Audiovisual Memory (Video)

Europeana

World Audiovisual Heritage Day