Workshop on New Media Art Archiving 2025

The network of international new media art archives (ACM SIGGRAPH History Archive, Archive of Digital Art (ADA), Ars Electronica, FILE (Electronic Language International Festival), ISEA Symposium Archives, MEMODUCT, and ZKM | Center for Art and Media) is organising the 1st Workshop on New Media Art Archiving (WNMAA) at ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, Germany, in February 2025. Since 2020, the annual Summit on New Media Art Archiving (SNMAA) has become a specialised event focused on current topics in the field. The workshop at ZKM will be a hands-on experience that builds upon the knowledge exchanged at the previous Summits and will focus on ideas related to the implementation of an interconnected network of new media art archives.

Background

Preserving media arts and their contexts is crucial for maintaining cultural heritage and ensuring that future generations have access to and can appreciate this unique form of artistic expression. In recent years, there has been a proliferation of online archives dedicated to new media art. Although efforts are being put into preserving and disseminating information about new media art artists and artworks, each repository exists independently of one another. In addition to the ongoing Summit on New Media Art Archiving series, which regularly takes place at the ISEA symposia this workshop will bring together experts, practitioners, and stakeholders to discuss strategies and best practices for globally connecting new media art archives.

Goal

This workshop will bring together experts, practitioners, and stakeholders to discuss strategies and best practices for globally connecting new media art archives. The aim is to establish a knowledge base and a network of new media art archives experts.

Connecting Archival Data and People

- Strategy Development: We will discuss numerous options and implementation models to develop an inclusive participatory system of connecting archives and enhanced communication between archivists.
- Technological Challenges: We will discuss the technological challenges associated with using open knowledge-base systems to connecting new media art archives.
- Metadata and Documentation: Discuss the importance of comprehensive metadata and documentation standards for effectively connecting media art networks.
- Access and Accessibility: Examine strategies for enhancing access to archived media artist information while ensuring its long-term preservation and security.
- Idea Development: Engage in teamwork to implement possible strategies and test possibilities. The ultimate goal is to eventually develop a prototype.

Dates and Location of the Workshop

Date: February 5–8, 2025
Location: ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, Germany

Call for Interest, Experts and Experiences: 

The Workshop on New Media Art Archiving is opening a call for individuals interested in connecting archives. We are looking for expertise, experiences and inviting specific individuals and projects to contribute. Our goal is to develop solutions that will establish a framework or prototype for a globally connected network of archives.

If you are interested in participating in the workshop, please send an email to: collection-and-archives@zkm.de before September 1, 2024