Preservation Services

From podcasts to video blogs, there is no question that digital media has revolutionized how we view art and performance. Today it is relatively cheap and easy to capture digital media of a performance or cultural event. But while cultural institutions like dance companies and visual artists are eagerly picking up technology to create, preserve and distribute their work, they are largely experimenting without a set of standards or technical best practices.

BAVC is the nation's largest non-profit preservation organization, and we are leading the field in developing preservation standards for the future, and providing hands-on expertise to practitioners as they implement these new standards. In 2003, we produced PLAYBACK, an interactive DVD that invites users to view the technical practices of video preservation and to experience the complex decision-making process engaged in by artists, conservators and video engineers as they reconstruct video artwork.

PRESERVATION SERVICES:

• Archival Collection Assessment, Preservation Planning and Cataloging and Metadata Consultation.
• Cleaning and Archival Transfer Analog Videotape Formats from: 1” Open Reel, 1/2" Open Reel, 3/4" Umatic and UmaticSP, Hi-8, Video8, S-VHS/ VHS, Betamax, MiniDV, DVCam, BetaSP formats. 
• Archival Transfer to: Digital File (with associated metadata), Digital Betacam, DVD, and other access formats. Optional viewing copies on DVD and other access formats available.
• Logged documentation of signal imperfection.

RATES:

BAVC Preservation rates are low because they are subsidized with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, individual donors and others. Please contact Preservation for consultation and pricing. We'll provide you with a preservation scheme that meets your archival needs and budget.

For more information: (415) 558-2158

BAVC Membership is required for all services.