Widening access to photograph preservation literature
The production of new written material and the translation of existing texts into Arabic is part of a broader aim to disseminate knowledge about photography preservation in particular and cultural heritage in general throughout the MENA region. This is being carried out in direct response to the dearth of educational opportunities regarding conservation in the region. These translations are free to obtain for collection keepers. If your institution would like to obtain paper copies of materials where available, please contact us at [email protected]
MEPPI Publications: Care of Photographs
Published 2003 by Susie Clark and Franziska Frey
Translated to Arabic by Ghada Haidar, 2009
Prior to the launching of MEPPI, the Arab Image Foundation (AIF) produced an Arabic translation of a key preservation resource: a key text by Susie Clark and Franziska Frey, entitled “Care of Photographs.” Originally published by the project Safeguarding Photographic Images for Access (SEPIA), the text was translated before the workshop and distributed to all of the participants. Among the challenges of rendering “Care of Photographs” into Arabic was finding accurate translations of technical terms – such as preservation, conservation, autochromes, and metadata – and differentiating subtle but vital shades of meaning. The AIF added a glossary to the Arabic translation in an attempt to establish a consensus on how to translate and apply the terms. The text covers identifying photographic materials, responding to deterioration and making a collection publicly accessible through digitization.
Available for download:
Also available as a paper copy, please contact [email protected] to order.
Guidelines for the Preservation of Photographs
 Published 2012Text by Heather Brown, translated to Arabic by Jacques Aswad
This bilingual booklet provides basic preservation guidelines for the long-term care of historic and contemporary image collections, such as photographic prints and negatives on paper, plastic and glass.
Available as a paper copy, please contact [email protected] to order. With thanks to Tru Vue Inc. for supporting the production of this booklet.
| Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel  Produced by the Arab Image Foundation (AIF) with the permission of Heritage Preservation, 2010 The Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel, produced by US-based Heritage Preservation, is a tool outlining procedures for reacting to natural and man-made disasters, such as floods, hurricanes and fires. The tool lists the crucial steps to be taken to safeguard photographic collections in addition to many other cultural artefacts ranging from framed artworks, ceramics and stone objects to books, textiles, natural history specimens and electronic records. The wheel can be ordered from the AIF by contacting [email protected] Preservation Of The Photographic Heritage Of The Eastern Mediterranean Conference paper by Nora Kennedy, Debra Hess Norris, Zeina Arida, Tamara Sawaya. 2010 ABSTRACT: There exist hidden treasures in the Eastern Mediterranean, largely uecognized and cared for by an enlightened few. These treasures are not the artifacts, monuments and architectural wonders that normally come to mind when pondering the incredibly rich and long cultural history of the region, but photographs dating from the early history of the medium to the present day that are the undervalued record of times past, documentation of social, political and cultural history and the expression of past and present societies. In 2006 the Arab Image Foundation (AIF) and two photograph conservators from the United States began a collaboration that ultimately led to a successful two-week Middle East Photograph Preservation Institute (MEPPI), supported by funding from the Getty and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundations. Fourteen individuals from five Middle Eastern countries participated in this unprecedented and highly successful workshop. This has served as a springboard to launch a range of initiatives aimed at the preservation of photographic heritage in the region. It is clear that the AIF role is critical, but it must also be supported and augmented by collaboration and participation from other individuals and institutions with similar aims. Initiatives must be produced at all levels to raise awareness, educate, train and prepare the next generation to care for, appreciate and utilize this invaluable resource. |