Western Front

Published purpose

The organization will digitize, preserve and provide access to Western Front’s collection of 1,353 Betamax, 3/4-inch U-matic, 1/2-inch open reel, VHS and Mini DV videotapes that document unique performance art and new music concerts presented at Western Front from 1973 to the 2000s. The project commemorates Western Front’s 50th year and will increase awareness of its contribution to Canadian art history and the artist-run centre movement. Currently, the archive is largely inaccessible due to storage concerns and at-risk media formats. Western Front will make the digitized material accessible on its website, enabling increased discoverability of the collection by scholars, curators, artists, writers and the public.