The National Moving Image Survey Report (Ireland)

The National Moving Image Survey Report, a detailed picture of Ireland’s rich film and video heritage collections, was launched by the Irish Film Institute (IFI). This hugely significant document gives a unique insight into the quantity, quality and content of moving image collections held by individuals and organisations across the country. As a result of the survey, a database of over 26,000 culturally valuable film and videotapes from 1910 to the present day has been compiled.

Originally commissioned in July 2016 by the Film Heritage Advisory Group with funding from the Department of Heritage, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and conducted by specialist audio-visual consultants Moving Media, the National Moving Image Survey sought submissions from individuals and organisations across the country, including national cultural institutions, Government agencies, museums, libraries, and galleries, detailing their moving image collections in order to help inform a national preservation and access strategy in line with current EU recommendations.

In total, 26,282 audio-visual items were surveyed across 53 collections, the majority of which are considered unique and of cultural heritage value. Over 18,300 videotapes were catalogued, accounting for almost 70% of the total items, with 6,732 digital files and 1,250 film reels also recorded.

The survey has identified the scale of the challenge of preservation in Ireland: over 88% of respondents do not have any catalogue that describes the collection; just 5% of custodians have formal training in the specialist care of audiovisual media, with most being self-taught; 75% of collections do not have a preservation plan in place; and most collections are not stored in conditions conducive to preserving film material.

The report makes a number of recommendations including the development of a nationally coordinated approach to preservation, in line with European programmes; the standardisation of audio-visual metadata to facilitate effective Europe-wide distribution and interoperability; the delivery of funding to assist organisations in preservation work; and the development of service centres for any organisations with insufficient technical capabilities.