DPLAfest 2019

This presentation explores how small archives can develop sustainable preservation plans for endangered AV material by partnering with other institutions. Panelists will present a case study in which a small, community-run archives (The Archives of La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club) partnered with a digitization vendor (Bay Area Video Coalition) and a university-based archives (The Wisconsin Center for Film and Theatre Research) to digitize, preserve, and expand access to a collection of unique, half-inch open reel videos documenting 1970s-era experimental theater and performance. Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, the project uses a post-custodial model to support effective, affordable digital preservation, discoverability, and access.