PRESERVATION & MIGRATION SEMINAR 2026
Digital time: show me how you do it!
Recipes for audiovisual content longevity
Preservation & Migration Seminar 2026 – June 4-5 – Dublin, Ireland – Royal Irish Academy
The FIAT/IFTA Preservation & Migration Commission (PMC), in collaboration with RTÉ and the Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI), invites you to the first on-site edition of the annual PMC Seminar, dedicated to preservation, migration, and the digital preservation of media content.
The event will be hosted at the Royal Irish Academy on June 4-5, 2026. This edition’s theme is:
Digital time: show me how you do it!
Recipes for audiovisual content longevity
Gain expert insights into the evolving challenges of audiovisual preservation and media migration, as global specialists share strategies for safeguarding content in an era of rapid technological change.
Through case studies, technical deep dives, and panel discussions, the seminar will address key issues impacting preservation today, including possible roles of AI, media archive eco-impact, content authenticity, cost models, and more.
HOSTS
REGISTRATION
Early bird registration is open until April 26.
FIAT/IFTA PRESERVATION & MIGRATION SEMINAR 2026
REGISTRATION FEES
Early Bird Registration
March 25 – April 26
FIAT/IFTA MEMBER
€90.00
FIAT/IFTA NON-MEMBER
€120.00
SPEAKER
€90.00
Regular Registration
April 27 – May 25
FIAT/IFTA MEMBER
€120.00
FIAT/IFTA NON-MEMBER
€150.00
SPEAKER
€90.00
TERMS & CONDITIONS
- Participants who cancel before May 25, 2026 will be entitled to a 50% refund of their registration fee. No refunds are possible for cancellations received after May 25, 2026.
- A participant who cancels may ask the FIAT/IFTA Office to transfer the registration to a colleague. A fee of 10% of the registration fee is charged for the replacements/transfers.
- Cancellations must be submitted in writing to FIAT/IFTA Office in order to receive any possible reimbursement.
- The participants shall bear any bank charges for international transfers.
- Refunds for no-shows are not possible.
- Until payment has been received, registration for the Seminar and any of its associated events cannot be confirmed. Without confirmed registration, participants will not be listed in the programme or in the list of participants.
- The FIAT/IFTA reserves the right to update individual registrations and invoices to reflect the registrant’s FIAT/IFTA membership status.
- The data submitted during registration will be used in the framework of the membership of the organisation mentioned above to FIAT/IFTA. This data will be treated according to FIAT/IFTA’s Privacy and Data Processing Statement.
The programme is correct at the time of publishing. Still, organisers reserve the right to alter it if and when deemed necessary, and the FIAT/IFTA Office reserves the right to make changes without prior notice to the parties concerned.
All seminar and other arrangements are subject to alteration and cancellation at any time without prior notice due to factors that are outside of the organisers’ reasonable control. This will be at the sole and absolute discretion of the organisers. Should such events, such as Force Majeure, render the organisers unable to deliver such service, the organisers shall not be held responsible. The organisers cannot be held responsible for any damages and/or costs arising from any such alteration or cancellation.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Kate Murray
Kate Murray is a Digital Projects Coordinator at the Library of Congress where she leads the Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative (FADGI) Audio-Visual Working Group and the Sustainability of Digital Formats website.
Kate is a member of AMIA (Preservation Committee co-chair 2010-2013), IASA (Technical Committee member), SMPTE and ISO/TC171/SC2 (PDF standards committees, including WG13 Content Provenance). She is the co-founder of the C2PA for G+LAM (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity for Government plus Libraries, Archives and Museums) Community of Practice in 2025.
In 2019, she received one of the inaugural Joint Technical Symposium (JTS) Awards for outstanding contributions to the technology of the audiovisual archiving field. In 2021, she received the NDSA Excellent Award for Individuals for making a significant contribution to the digital preservation community through advances in theory or practice. In 2022, she was a finalist for the DPC 20th Anniversary Award on behalf of FADGI’s cumulative body of work.
A global leader in digital file formats research and audiovisual preservation, she is the LC liaison to the PDF Association, Vice Chair of the Digital Preservation Coalition’s (DPC) Executive Board and Vice Chair of the DPC Americas stakeholder committee. Kate received her undergraduate degree in Medieval Literature from Columbia University and her MBIBL from the University of Cape Town.
TRAVEL ADVICE
Travelling to Dublin
FIAT/IFTA strongly encourages you to minimise your ecological footprint when travelling to the seminar.
PLANE
Dublin is served by Dublin Airport, approximately 10 km north of the city centre. From the airport, several direct coach services such as Aircoach and Dublin Express connect to central Dublin in around 30–40 minutes. Public buses operated by Dublin Bus (including routes 16 and 41) provide a more economical alternative, while taxis and ride-hailing services are readily available outside the terminals.
BUS
For those travelling from within Ireland or nearby regions, long-distance coach services such as FlixBus offer convenient connections to Dublin. Most services arrive at Busáras, the central bus station, which is a short journey from the venue by public transport or taxi.
TRAIN
Rail travel is a practical option for journeys within Ireland. Services operated by Iarnród Éireann connect Dublin with major cities including Cork, Galway, and Belfast, arriving at centrally located stations such as Connolly and Heuston. While it is possible to reach Ireland from the UK by combining train and ferry, this option is generally longer and less direct.
CAR
Travelling by car offers flexibility, particularly for those coming from other parts of Ireland; however, driving in Dublin city centre can be challenging due to traffic and limited parking. On-street parking is restricted and paid, and public car parks can be costly. Visitors are advised to park outside the centre where possible and continue their journey by public transport. Streets around the venue are also subject to access restrictions and pedestrian priority.
Public Transport
Dublin’s public transport network provides easy access to the city centre and the seminar venue. Dublin Bus operates an extensive network across the city, while the Luas Green Line stops at St. Stephen’s Green, just a short walk from the Academy. The DART also connects coastal areas with central Dublin. For planning journeys, the Transport for Ireland Journey Planner and Google Maps provide reliable, real-time information. Given the central location of the venue, many participants may also find it convenient to walk
General Visa Advice
Please note that Ireland’s visa requirements are determined by your travel document. If your passport requires a visa, you must obtain the appropriate visa before travelling. We strongly recommend checking the visa requirements applicable to your nationality well before your trip here.
We also advise that you review the travel advice of your originating country and/or the country who have issued your passport when planning to travel to Ireland.
If you require an official invitation letter for a visa application, please contact the FIAT/IFTA Office at office@fiatifta.org. Our team will be happy to guide you through the process.
VENUE
ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY
19 Dawson St, Dublin 2, D02 HH58
The seminar will take place at the Royal Irish Academy, housed in a distinguished red-brick building dating from circa 1756. The elegant four-bay structure rises four storeys over a basement and reflects the architectural character and intellectual heritage of the Georgian period.
Located in the heart of Dublin city centre, the Academy offers a prestigious and welcoming setting, combining historic charm with an atmosphere dedicated to scholarship, research, and cultural exchange. Its central location makes it easily accessible while providing an inspiring environment for discussion and collaboration.
TOPICS OF INTEREST
- The role of AI in digital preservation
- Media archive eco-impact
- Preservation of content authenticity
- Preservation of born digital content
- Storage technologies for digital media preservation
- Formats for digital media preservation
- Cost models for digital media preservation
- Digital preservation vs media management
- Use/adoption/adaptation of OAIS model in media archives
- Digital preservation planning
- Preservation of metadata
- Data and system migration issues
- Technical quality of archive content for content repurposing
- Physical preservation and restoration
- Migration
SEMINAR SPONSORS
