World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is celebrated to raise awareness about the significance of audio-visual records and the necessity to preserve them. World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is observed every year on October 27. The day aims to make these resources more available to the public while emphasising the need to preserve them for future generations.
Audio Visual Heritage - Overview
Moving pictures and documents are examples of audio-visual heritage that investigate people's lives and cultures worldwide. The materials are part of the world's collective memory since they are a vital source of information and a window into the past.
In India, you may observe World Day for Audiovisual Heritage by visiting any of the institutions listed below to learn more about how such materials are crucial for accessing the past.
- National Film Archive of India (NFAI), Pune: The NFAI is one of India's most extensive film preservation and conservation repositories, with a massive collection of film reels.
- Partition Museum, Amritsar: Thousands of historic records from the generation who lived through the country's split are housed at the museum.
- National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi: Visitors visiting the NGMA may use a first-of-its-kind audio-visual tour app to explore modern Indian artworks and listen to tales about them on their cell phones.
Why is World Day for Audiovisual Heritage Obeserved?
In the year 2005, the UNESCO General Conference approved the idea of observing the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage to raise general awareness of the need to preserve and safeguard important audiovisual material for future generations. Also, to raise urgent measures to conserve this heritage and ensure it remains accessible to the public now and in the future.
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage Significance
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage promotes public awareness of the need for immediate action and the significance of audio-visual documents. It also encourages the free exchange of ideas through words and images to symbolise our shared heritage and memories. This day also emphasises the importance of legacy in providing security and peace of mind.
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage History
In 2005, the UNESCO General Conference endorsed the marking of World Audiovisual Heritage Day. It was proposed to create widespread awareness about the need to preserve and safeguard vital audiovisual information for future generations. Another critical factor was the need to take immediate action to keep this treasure and guarantee it is available to the public and future generations.
☛ Also Read: Weekly Current Affairs
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage Adopted On?
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage was adopted in 1980 by the recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images at the 21st General Conference of the UN. As a result, World Day provides a chance for UNESCO's Member States to assess their progress in implementing the 2015 Recommendation Concerning the Preservation and Access to Documentary Heritage.
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage Theme
- 2020: Your Window to the World
- 2019: Engage the Past Through Sounds and Images
- 2018: Your Story Is Moving
- 2017: Discover, Remember, and Share
- 2016: It’s Your Story – Don’t Lose It
In today's technological environment, we generate and find most information in digital form. Recognising this tendency, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) realised that something needed to be done to safeguard audiovisual material. Furthermore, UNESCO recognises that audiovisual documents contain the history of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
FAQs on World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
Q.1- When is World Day for Audiovisual Heritage observed?
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is observed on the 27th of October.
Q.2- The General Conference of UNESCO approved the commemoration of a World Day for Audiovisual Heritage in which year?
The General Conference of UNESCO approved the commemoration of a World Day for Audiovisual Heritage in 2005.
Q.3- What was the theme of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage in 2020?
The theme of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage in 2020 was Your Window to the World.
Q.4- What was the theme of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage in 2018?
The theme of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage in 2018 was Your Story Is Moving.
Q.5- What was the theme of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage in 2019?
The theme of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage in 2019 was Engage the Past Through Sounds and Images.