International events: Oct. 27 – World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2011 on initiative of UNESCO

UNESCO has adopted 27 October as the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage to better focus global attention on the issues at stake, in cooperation with the Co-ordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA) and other partners. A growing number of archives around the world will be commemorating this Day with activities that highlight the fragility and vulnerability of this heritage, while celebrating the work of the heritage institutions that have helped to protect it.

Sound recordings and moving images are extremely vulnerable as they can be quickly and deliberately destroyed. Essentially emblematic of the 20th century, audiovisual heritage can be irretrievably lost as a result of neglect, natural decay and technological obsolescence. Public consciousness of the importance of preservation of these recordings must be engaged and the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is intended to be the platform for building global awareness.

The theme for this year's celebration of the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2011 is "Audiovisual Heritage: See, Hear, and Learn."

UNESCO encourages everyone, everywhere to join in celebrating 27 October by showcasing their precious collections as part of a global endeavor to promote the value of audiovisual heritage. In an attempt to provide universal access to documentary heritage and to increase awareness of the existence and significance of documentary heritage World Day for Audiovisual Heritage will be celebrated in Tsumkwe (Namibia) by Showcasing a selection of the John Marshall Ju/’hoan Bushman Film and Video Collection, 1950-2000, which has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register; and showcasing a selection of additional sound and film archival material from the National Archives of Namibia. UNESCO Kathmandu Office celebrated the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on 17 October 2011 by an open-air screening of Metropolis, the 1927 film by Fritz Lang which is listed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World international register. Metropolis was selected to be screened in Kathmandu as it is an outstanding example of audiovisual heritage. This month Danish Cinematheque is screening three movies of Asta Nielsen, Danish silent film actress.