DAM Europe 2026
Enabling Access to the National Video Archive of Performance (NVAP)
- from Vaulted to Visible
Context and Challenge:
The NVAP comprises over 400 recordings of live theatre and performance, compiled since 1992 under a unique agreement between the Federation of Entertainment Unions and the V&A Theatre and Performance collection. While this agreement has enabled the recording of performances, access to the material has been challenging due to multiple technological restrictions.
Solution:
- How we expanded access to NVAP through the development of a dedicated ‘public’ web portal, available on-site via a new digital suite at V&A East Storehouse.
- How we worked with internal stakeholders to define an appropriate access framework.
- How metadata standards and interface design were adapted to support public discovery.
Covering the challenges of balancing access and legal obligations. How this project has fundamentally changed the ways researchers and audiences can engage with the NVAP collection.
Zoë Hollingworth, Collections Systems Lead, V&A South Kensington
Pam Young, Head Registrar – Documentation & Systems, V&A South Kensington