By way of launching the Information for All Programme (IFAP) project, UNESCO has made lots of enforcements in the last years aimed at the digital preservation of the cultural world heritage, at the preservation of physically damaged audiovisual materials (old films, early amateur moving pictures, early television documents and countless other rare and unique materials).
In the frames of the Participation Program of UNESCO for 2008-2009 the application of ITA, titled AUDIOVISUAL HERITAGE RESTORATION AND DIGITISATION CENTRE (ARRADIC) was approved. ARRADIC is one of the most important segments of the Information for All Programme (IFAP) that plays decisive role in the restoration and digitisation of audiovisual materials forming part of the world heritage.
The basic aim of the project is the establishment and operation of ARRADIC, under the control of ITA. This will be a service provision centre whose main target is the restoration and digitisation of audiovisual material with special regard to the restoration of 35-mm nitro-celluloid films produced in developing countries, and the restoration and digitisation of audiovisual materials specifically black/white photograms and photographs made on glass.
As regards its principle and scope of operation, ARRADIC targets the preservation of the world heritages of the continents, and the improvement of their supply with cultural products. Also, it covers the cultural demands, needs and wishes of any given community aimed at preservation; ensures publicity and equality for them. It facilitates the preservation of the content of the universal cultural world heritage and understanding of its services, and the cooperation among the service providers.
After winning the bid, ITA established the organisation necessary for the implementation of the project, and following the elaboration of the detailed feasibility study in December 2009 it completed the task undertaken. The relevant study has been handed over to the competent bodies of UNESCO and ITA is convinced that it will further on be given the possibility to take part in film archiving works.