Preservation Needs Assessment for the Archives of San Francisco Cinematheque

FAIN: PG-287875-22

San Francisco Cinematheque (San Francisco, CA 94103-2637)
Steve Polta (Project Director: January 2022 to April 2025)

A preservation assessment for a collection documenting 60 years of the San Francisco Cinematheque’s programming and publication history, and staff training in digital preservation best practices. 

San Francisco Cinematheque (SFC) was founded in 1961 in the San Francisco Bay Area. For six decades, SFC has been dedicated to the cultivation of the international field of non-commercial artists’ filmmaking. In its work, SFC presents public exhibitions, creates publications documenting the field and maintains a publicly accessible Research Archive. Apropos the SFC Archive, with funds provided, SFC will perform a Preservation Needs Assessment. This Assessment will evaluate the physical condition of holdings, organizational policies, storage practices and handling procedures and will assess the overall condition of archival materials. This assessment will then inform the development of a long term preservation plan. Additionally, SFC staff will participate in a workshop on Digital Preservation and Management of Electronic Records and will purchase necessary preservation supplies, including (as needed) archival quality storage containers, environmental monitoring equipment and shelving.