October 27: World Day for Audio-visual Heritage

October 29, 2022

October 27 is observed on World Day for Audiovisual Heritage.

Why is World Day for Audiovisual Heritage observed?

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage aims to raise global awareness about the importance of the preservation of recorded sound and audiovisual documents. It provides opportunities for the celebration of specific local, national and international aspects of these documents. It also seeks to boost the cultural status of the audiovisual heritages and raise awareness about the threats faced by them, especially in developing countries. The day provides opportunity for UNESCO’s member states to assess their performance in the implementation of 2015 Recommendation Concerning the Preservation of, and Access to, Documentary Heritage. The day’s objective resonates with the vision of the UNESCO’s Memory of the World Project, which was launched in 1992 to recognize the importance of preservation of and universal accessibility to documentary heritage.

When was the day first observed?

On October 27, 1980, the Recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images was adopted at the 21^st General Conference of the UNESCO in Belgrade, Serbia. This came to fruition because of the efforts taken by the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) since the late 1970s. The 33^rd session of the UNESCO’s General Conference held in 2005 adopted October 27 as the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage to mark the 25^th anniversary of the adoption of Recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images.

What is the theme for World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2022?

This year’s theme for World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is “Enlisting documentary heritage to promote inclusive, just and peaceful societies”. The 2022 celebrations coincide with the 30^th anniversary of the UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme. Documentary heritage is a source of information. Its protection is included in the “public access to information” component and “fundamental freedoms” component of SDG 16.10.

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