The Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) is pleased to be involved in the European Media and Born-Digital Art Conservation and Knowledge Network (EMBARK), a newly approved COST Action bringing together expertise in a four-year mission to safeguard media and born-digital artworks.
Running until 15 October 2029, EMBARK is the first pan-European initiative dedicated to preserving Europe’s media and born-digital art heritage. The project brings together museums, archives, universities, researchers, conservators, digital preservation specialists, artists, and technologists from more than 25 countries in Europe, with plans to grow the network further over the coming years.
Since the 1960s, European artists have used film, video, sound, software, and networked environments to create artworks that reflect and challenge technological progress. Today, many of these artworks risk disappearing because museums and archives lack the specialized expertise, infrastructure and policies needed for their preservation. Without coordinated action, Europe could lose an irreplaceable part of its 20th- and 21st-century art history and cultural legacy. EMBARK aims to address these challenges by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, training, and knowledge exchange across Europe.
DPC’s role: Preservation and Sustainability
Within EMBARK, the DPC is leading the Preservation and Sustainability working group. This group will explore how different preservation decisions shape the long-term survival, accessibility, and research use of media and born-digital art collections.
A key focus of the group’s work will be developing practical, sustainable processes that support long-term access, while also ensuring that artists and artists’ estates are meaningfully involved in preservation planning and decision-making.
A collaborative European effort
EMBARK is led by Action Chair Joanna Phillips (RED – Düsseldorf Conservation Center, Germany) and Action Vice Chair Patricia Falcao (Tate, UK). An EU grant of approximately €600,000 supports meetings, training schools, and other networking activities to support heritage institutions and researchers in jointly identifying and addressing preservation challenges.
“Europe has never before attempted a project of this scale to protect its media art heritage and address the preservation crisis,” said Joanna Phillips. “By uniting universities, museums and creative industries, we can safeguard our media art heritage and pioneer new techniques for digital preservation.” Patricia Falcao added, “EMBARK will not only work to prevent the loss of media art; it will harness cutting-edge technology to make conservation more efficient and sustainable.”
Over the next four years, EMBARK will organize conferences, training schools, and open calls, creating opportunities for institutions, researchers, and practitioners to engage, share knowledge, and contribute to the future of media and born-digital art conservation.
Call to action
Institutions, researchers, and practitioners with an interest in media art, born-digital heritage, and sustainable preservation practice are warmly invited to get involved with EMBARK. Opportunities to participate include attending events, contributing to working groups, and responding to upcoming open calls and grants.
By pooling expertise and resources across Europe, EMBARK aims to ensure that media and born-digital artworks remain accessible and meaningful for generations to come.