The Lanzarote Digital Memory collection has grown substantially in recent months, with hundreds of new photographs and dozens of old films added to the public website.
The project, managed by the Lanzarote Cabildo’s Data Centre, is dedicated to the digitisation, archiving and dissemination of historical audiovisual material about the past of both Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
There are now more than 17,000 photographs and 530 old films available to view at www.memoriadelanzarote.com. Donations from private collections have increased significantly during this period, enriching the archive and allowing residents of the island to access the material from anywhere.
Among the newly added home movies and videos are recordings in formats such as Super 8 and VHS. These document family scenes, landscapes and popular celebrations from the 1960s through to the 1990s.
In addition, the original copy of the film “La Octava Isla” by Gran Canarian filmmaker Pedro Siemens has been restored. This 16mm film, held at the Gran Canaria Audiovisual Cultural Centre, has undergone restoration work to address physical imperfections caused by the chemical ageing of the film which are common in old celluloid footage.
The Councillor for the Data Centre, Ascensión Toledo, wished to publicly express her gratitude to all the donors. “The individuals and institutions that collaborate with and place their trust in the Lanzarote Cabildo and Lanzarote Digital Memory to digitise their old photos and films are making a generous gesture, not only toward the institution but toward the entire population of Lanzarote and La Graciosa,” she stated.
“Once digitised and published, their personal archives become a magnificent repository and documentary resource for preserving, exploring or researching the past of both islands. Thank you to everyone, and we encourage the public to continue submitting their photos for digitisation, reminding them that Lanzarote Digital Memory returns all materials to their owners once they have been digitised,” Toledo added.
A living archive
The Lanzarote Digital Memory Project aims to locate, recover, digitise and share the audiovisual heritage of Lanzarote and La Graciosa. Thanks to donations from individuals, families and institutions, the archive continues to grow and document key aspects of the archipelago’s social, cultural and landscape evolution.
The service is offered completely free of charge. Originals are scanned or digitised using high-resolution technology, returned to their owners, and accompanied by a digital copy.
Anyone interested in collaborating with the project can contact Memoria Digital de Lanzarote via email at memoria@cabildodelanzarote.com, via WhatsApp or mobile phone at 620 145 820, or by calling 928 810 100 (extension 3006).
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