Safeguarding European Photographic Images for Access (SEPIA)

In 1999 the European Commission on Preservation and Access (ECPA) initiated a project aimed at the long-term preservation of all kind of photographic materials and defining the role of new technology in collection management. This resulted in Safeguarding European Photographic Images for Access (SEPIA). The project was set up explicitly to bring together representatives from different types of institutions that hold photographs: libraries, archives and museums, as well as from research institutes. This followed from a basic principle in the work of the ECPA, to create a platform to exchange ideas and experiences of preservation issues that break through the traditional division into sectors. The project was funded by the European Union under the Culture 2000 programme for one year. The success of these activities encouraged the partners to formulate a follow-up program for another 3 years. This ran from 1 November 2000 until October 2003 and is also subsidized by the Culture 2000 programme. More partners and associate partners have joined, so that the group now consists of 19 institutions in 11 countries. SEPIA II has built on the experiences of the first year. Activities are again targeted at both the professional world and the general public. Training sessions, several expert meetings, exhibitions and public events have been organised in participating institutions, a website and introductory texts on photographic preservation have been published in several languages.

NOTE: To the best of our knowledge, this project is no longer active. A cached version of the project website is available thanks to the Internet Archive.  Please let us know if you have more current information!