Its objective will be to increase awareness; among decision-makers and funding agencies about the archives’ historical, educational, cultural and economical value and the necessity to implement a preservation and digitization policy; among the stakeholders of the importance of good implementation of information dissemination and training activities.

Balkans’ Memory is a project lead by Ina through its center for expertise in media and digital contents, Ina EXPERT, in partnership with the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, the National Film Archive of Albania and COPEAM.

Its global objective is to implement the first steps of an ambitious policy of preservation and promotion of audiovisual heritage in the Western Balkans; to promote the dissemination of good practices and know-how; and strengthen the skills of the professionals working in archive centers and local broadcasters.

The project is composed of preparatory actions whose aim is to raise awareness among decision-makers of the Western Balkans on the necessity to invest in the preservation, digitization, use and management of their cinematographic and audiovisual heritage.

It will target 3 levels of stakeholders – decision-makers, heads of archives and professionals – on a local and regional scale and intends to create the preliminary conditions to encourage the preservation, digitization and use of audiovisual heritage in the Western Balkans through:

     ● raising awareness among decision-makers and funding agencies on the historical, cultural,      
        educational, and economical value of the archives

     ● providing information to managers in charge of cinematographic and audiovisual collections

     ● strengthening capacities of professionals working in the field of audiovisual heritage.

The opening conference, held on the 1st of June 2012 in Zagreb, will gather regional stakeholders in the preservation of audiovisual and cinematographic heritage field. It will launch a series of conferences, seminars and regional training activities dedicated to professionals from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Kosovo*, Montenegro and Serbia.

Associated partners: CNC (French film archives), Cinematheque of Macedonia, IFTA (International Federation of Television Archives), MKRTV (Radio and Television of FYROM/Macedonia), National Film Archive Centre in Zagreb, National Film Archive of Bosnia-Herzegovina, National Film Archive Centre of Montenegro, RTCG (Radio and Television of Montenegro), RTS (Serbian Radio and Television) and Yugoslav Film Archives in Serbia.

Conference programme
The project is co-financed by the European Commission.
For more information, please visit the official page of the inaugural conference.
*According to the 1244 resolution of the UN Security Council