BISA 2024: Sound Heritage Today

Recent years have seen real progress to digitally preserve recorded sound, to make these sources discoverable and accessible for research in the broadest sense, and to engage diverse audiences with them. Many more sound recordings remain urgently at risk from technological obsolescence and physical degradation though. While sound heritage is becoming increasingly mainstream and the capacity and skills required to deliver this work continue to develop, digital preservation still represents a huge challenge.

Against this backdrop, the British and Irish Sound Archives (BISA) invite colleagues who work with or hold sound collections to join us for two days of practical skill sharing and planning activities. These aim to explore how we can collaborate together to move forward with this vital work. A full programme will follow, but attendees can expect:

• An introductory tour of the sound facilities at the National Library of Scotland’s Moving Image Archive;
• Practical sessions to share skills and exchange knowledge on topics, such as sound engineering and intellectual property rights clearance;
• A showreel screening of recent learning and engagement highlights that make the most of sound collections;
• A planning workshop to help map out plans and priorities across our sectors over the next 1 or 2 years.
• An extended Annual General Meeting will then provide an opportunity for us to agree how best we can support each other through BISA to preserve sound heritage and the rich variety of other activities that it makes feasible.

Attendess are encouraged to come prepared to discuss several key questions:

• What are your organisations’ current plans for sound heritage over the next two years?
• How does this fit into the wider priorities of your organisation?
• What are the key challenges and opportunities that you see for sound heritage on an individual level or on an organisational level whatever your role is?
• How can BISA help address this situation?

Host or Publisher British and Irish Sound Archives