Preserving the Past: World Day for Audio-visual Heritage

Have you ever watched an old movie, listened to a classic radio show, or seen your parents’ childhood cartoons? These are all part of something called audio-visual heritage! Audio-visual means anything we can see or hear, like videos, films, TV shows, and recordings. Heritage means it’s something important from the past that we want to keep safe for the future.

Every year on October 27, people all around the world celebrate World Day for Audio-visual Heritage. It’s a day to protect and take care of these important recordings so that future generations can see, hear, and learn from them.

Why is this important? Imagine if your favourite cartoon from a long time ago disappeared forever, or if the first movie ever made in your country was lost. Audio-visual heritage keeps these stories alive, helping us learn about history, culture, and even science in a fun way!

Some examples of audio-visual heritage include:

• Old movies and cartoons

• Radio shows from many years ago

• TV programmes that people loved

• Videos showing historic events

Fun Facts:

• The first movie ever made was just a few seconds long, showing a man walking in a garden!

• The world’s oldest radio broadcast still exists, and it lets us hear music and voices from the early 1900s.

• Some movies and shows are so old that only one copy exists, making them very precious.

Libraries and museums store films and recordings in safe places, digital technology helps make copies so the original doesn’t get lost, and restoration fixes damaged old videos so they can be watched again.

Did you know that Guyana has films and shows that show festivals, music, and daily life from years ago? These are part of our country’s audio-visual heritage. Preserving them means that future kids can see how people lived and celebrated in the past.

There are lots of documentaries that offer a glimpse into Guyana’s culture:

• Guyana: A Visual Essay
  This documentary offers a comprehensive look into Guyana’s landscapes, people, and traditions, providing invaluable insights into the nation’s cultural fabric.

• The Terror and the Time
  A poignant film that delves into the political and social upheavals in Guyana during the 1970s, reflecting the nation’s struggles and resilience.

• Anatomy of Resistance
  This documentary chronicles the efforts of Guyanese individuals and groups who stood against various forms of oppression, showcasing the spirit of resistance and unity.

Festivals like Mashramani and various months or days dedicated to culture, like Emancipation Day or Indian Arrival Day, and the recent Amerindian Heritage Month, help to preserve traditions and remind us of our cultural history.

Because of the work of organisations like the National Trust of Guyana, many buildings and monuments have been recorded and preserved.

Colona House
Established in 1945, was the first Catholic hospital in the city of Georgetown but was destroyed by fire on May 10, 2010. (National Trust of Guyana)

Queenstown Masjid
The first mosque was built in 1896, mainly of timber. By 1940, the building was repaired two times and enlarged to accommodate the growing Islamic population. That mosque was demolished in 2007, paving the way for the construction of a contemporary masjid. (National Trust of Guyana)

The Mahaica Railway Bridge
Manufactured by Patent Shaft and Axeltree Company Limited, Wednesbury, in 1897, the lattice girder steel bridge was moved in February 2004 to accommodate the construction of the current Mahaica Bridge. (National Trust of Guyana)

Mission Chapel Congregational Church
Established in 1815 by Reverend John Wray, the Mission Chapel Congregational Church is one of the oldest structures in New Amsterdam. In 1822, it became too small and was enlarged; a school was also built. Both were destroyed by arson in 1823. They were rebuilt, and in 1841, the present church’s foundation stone was laid. (National Trust of Guyana)