Audiovisual archives that tell stories about people’s lives and culture exist all over the world. They are important for our mutual understanding because they reflect the world’s social and cultural diversity. They help us grow and comprehend the world we all share. However, many of these important collections are not accessible. They are endangered by the fragility of the media. They are being neglected due to economic shortage or being ignored because of lack of understanding of their importance. In short, their value is not recognized. The result is that entire collections of material on film, tape and disc and the value they represent are at risk of being lost forever.
The “Save your Archive” Program has been designed to assist in this regard. The main aim of the program is to support a limited number of well defined projects, on a one or two year basis, by various means, including by allocating financial support.
A Special Fund has been established.
The projects that will be supported are expected to include such tasks as preventive conservation, digitization, valorization and access to content.
2. Objectives
The aim of this program is to:
Support by funding the preservation and valorization of audiovisual heritage material that is in danger of destruction, neglect or physical deterioration world-wide.
Support an established project to help bringing it to completion, or to enable a further development of the project which otherwise would not have been possible, e.g. valorization, development of the website.
Support with training, professional advice, provision of equipment and other adequate resources that would secure, valorize or make accessible any audiovisual heritage material.
Draw attention to the role of FIAT/IFTA and its members as central players in the field of audiovisual heritage.
Enhance the international nature of the FIAT/IFTA community.
Collaborate with other organizations and programs to further support Archives at Risks around the world.
3. Eligibility
All projects involving audiovisual heritage collections are eligible for funding and support by this Program. This includes broadcast material (radio and TV), cinema newsreels, production rushes, sound recordings, etc.
More specific criteria regarding both the collection and the project are as follows:
The collection should be significant, valuable, unique, vulnerable. The applicant should be the owner of the collection and hold sufficient rights, to enable its accessibility, to at least valorize and promote the collection. Supporting documentation may be required.
The project should be achievable, and realistic in terms of time scale and resources. It must be sustainable and contribute to the accessibility of the collection. It should demonstrate best practice (i.e meet professional standards) and value for money. The project should be supported by the parent organization.
Eligible costs include equipment and services purchased specifically for the project. Staff salaries and company running costs are excluded.
4. Procedure and requirements
A call for projects once agreed by the FIAT/IFTA Executive Council is announced on its web page each year with details of how to apply and deadlines by which applications must be be submitted.
The decision on selected projects if final, and will be announced at the FIAT/IFTA World Conference. The selected projects will go on a process of more detailed investigation with the project manager. To this end, experts in the field may be consulted.
The applicant is required to submit a written request on a formal application form provided on the website S/he should appoint a project leader and provide evidence of a sample of the collection for example, on a validated website, DVD , brochure, or any other standard carrier, or photograph reflecting the condition & content of the endangered material.
The award of funds is subject to a signed agreement detailing the timeline, the support provided and the commitments of each party. The following commitments will be standard:
The possession and the copyright of the material will remain with the copyright holder.
A member of the “Save Your Archive” team will be appointed to follow up on the project, assist and to report to the Executive Council.
The recipient should report – in writing and by producing a visual report - on the progress achieved, at least once a year, and when the project is completed. The visual report will be presented at the FIAT/IFTA World Conference.
5. Administration of the program
The “Save your Archive” Program is run as a FIAT/IFTA project, authorized by the Executive Council of FIAT/IFTA. The value of the fund is set annually by the Council. and may be withdrawn at any time. The program is managed voluntarily by an international team of archive professionals all of whom are active members of FIAT/IFTA. The “Save your Archive” team fulfills such tasks as advising the applicants, assessing the applications, seeking additional expert advice, and supporting, overseeing the progress of the funded projects , and promoting and presenting the program projects at annual conference.