PreservArt project receives funding for innovative research into sound heritage preservation

We are delighted to announce that the project PreservArt — Multidimensional Approach to Preservation of Historical Audio Recordings: A Study of Chemical and Microbiological Degradation Mechanisms has received funding from the Foundation for Science and Technology (IC&DT) and Portugal 2030. This interdisciplinary initiative aims to scientifically study, preserve and restore historical audio recordings, with a special focus on analysing the chemical and microbiological degradation mechanisms of magnetic tapes.

The project is coordinated by Isabel Pires (Research Group on Contemporary Music) and has a multidisciplinary team of specialists in conservation science, chemistry, microbiology, digital humanities, and archival studies. PreservArt will be developed by:

CESEM’s Laboratory of Audio Preservation and Restoration (LaPRA);
Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV), part of the REQUIMTE network (Chemistry and Technology Network);
Linguistics Centre of the NOVA University of Lisbon (CLUNL);
Digital Humanities Laboratory (LHD) of the Institute of Contemporary History (IHC).

The study will focus on a collection of 200 historic acetate magnetic tapes belonging to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the National Museum of Music, providing a unique opportunity to advance knowledge and set new standards in audio preservation. The main objectives are:

To analyse the chemical and microbiological degradation processes affecting historical audio media, correlating the materials making up the tapes with the types of degradation identified;
Develop innovative restoration and digitisation strategies to safeguard recordings at risk;
Create a database and ontology-based model to document and manage preservation data;
Design a diagnostic tool to support cultural institutions in assessing and prioritising conservation interventions.

PreservArt aligns with international efforts to conserve cultural heritage and will contribute to the long-term preservation of priceless sound recordings, guaranteeing continued access to fundamental historical and artistic content.