Digitizing Storefront’s Archive for Web-based Public Access

Material Description

As one of the first alternative spaces in the US dedicated to presenting innovative work at the intersection of art and architecture, Storefront has accumulated an archive documenting its diverse and influential program of over 280 exhibitions, performances, publications and events dating from its founding in 1982. Featuring work of 1,500+ architects, artists and designers, many now nationally and internationally recognized (See section 5), this material constitutes a unique design resource of national significance, that remains unpublished and not digitally accessible. The archive is arranged into three collections: Program Files (1982-2010, 75 cf) document all aspects of Storefront’s programming activities, including conception and research, implementation, and outreach; Institutional Records (1979-2008, 10 cf) document Storefront’s operational activities, primarily during its first two decades; and Original Artworks (1982-2006, 30 cf) contains 600+ original works on paper and 10+ 3D objects produced by program participants for exhibitions and events. The archive’s material spans diverse formats including text documents (press releases, correspondence, proposals, budgets, work plans, hand-written notes, proposals, clippings); images (photographic prints, 35mm slides, 35mm & medium format film negatives, newsletter films); publications (tabloid newsletters, catalogues and books) and audio-visual media (VHS tapes, DVDs, CDs and MiniDVs). Storefront has selected four series from its Program Files collection for item-level cataloging, digitization and web-based publication (See Section 3). These records have been prioritized according to two basic selection criteria: 1) A/V media that currently cannot be accessed and requires immediate preservation, digitization and description; 2) program records that are most frequently requested for research.