Historical photographic collections are an essential part of the European cultural heritage both for their artistic as for their documentary value.
Photographs speak a universal language, and as a record of past times appeal to a large audience.
However, many of them are fragile and the preservation of the wide variety of photographic materials is a problem for all institutions. Digital imaging, offering new opportunities for access and care, is now widely explored for its role in management of photographic collections. This followed from a basic principle in the work of the ECPA, to create a platform to exchange ideas and experiences of preservation issues that break through the traditional division into sectors. The project was funded by the European Union under the Culture 2000 programme for one year. The success of these activities encouraged the partners to formulate a follow-up program for another 3 years which has recently been selected as a result of the latest call for proposals of the Culture 2000 programme.