Your Window to the World: World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2025

27 October 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (WDAVH)—a global initiative established by UNESCO in cooperation with the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA). This day celebrates the richness and diversity of our audiovisual heritage and raises awareness of the urgent need to preserve it.

Audiovisual materials-film, sound recordings, broadcast archives, and oral histories-capture our collective memory in motion and sound. They preserve languages, performances, political movements, environmental changes, and personal stories that would otherwise fade with time. Yet, these records remain among the most vulnerable parts of our cultural heritage. They face ongoing threats from physical decay, outdated technologies, inadequate storage, and insufficient resources.

Why This Day Matters

The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is both a celebration and a call to action. It recognises the dedication of archivists, conservators, technicians, and memory workers around the world who safeguard our audiovisual histories. It also reminds us that without continued advocacy, investment, and collaboration, much of this irreplaceable heritage could be lost.

Over the past two decades, the CCAAA and its member associations have championed this day as a platform to:

• Promote greater awareness of audiovisual preservation challenges

• Encourage public engagement through screenings, exhibitions, and talks

• Highlight new preservation technologies and sustainable access models

• Foster regional and international collaboration

How You Can Participate

CCAAA invites organisations, archives, and individuals worldwide to take part in this year’s commemoration.
Ways to get involved include:

• Hosting a local event, film screening, or open archive day
• Sharing stories, interviews, or examples from your own collections
• Using and sharing the official 2025 WDAVH poster and video
• Registering your event or initiative on the CCAAA website

Learn more and access downloadable resources here: https://www.ccaaa.org/WDAVH2025

A Shared Responsibility

Preserving audiovisual heritage is not the work of archives alone—it depends on public awareness, institutional support, and collective commitment. Every reel, tape, or file holds a voice from the past that can inform our future. As we mark 20 years of this global observance, let’s renew our efforts to protect and celebrate these living records of human creativity and experience.