Engage the Past Through Sounds and Images: this is the theme of the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2019, promoted by UNESCO and celebrated every year on 27 October.
The aim of WDAH is to raise awareness of the importance of preserving our collective histories–often captured on film, video, audio or digital formats–because these histories are a priceless treasure essential for the construction of personal and social identities, for the cultural formation of individuals, and for the collective memory of peoples. Audiovisual archives, underscores UNESCO, help us connect with our history and understanding of who we are today and transmit this knowledge to future generations.
Radio and television recordings, discography and filmography that tell the story of the 20th and 21st centuries, that speak of the past and question the present, that explain, intrigue, teach, amuse, entertain and relive the daily life of peoples and cultures…. Conserving this heritage and ensuring that it remains accessible to the public and future generations is a vital goal of WDAH.