Moving Image Preservation of Puget Sound Renews Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility

Seattle, WA – February 26, 2025

Moving Image Preservation of Puget Sound (MIPoPS) is proud to reaffirm our commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) as a fundamental part of our mission to preserve and provide access to the region’s audiovisual heritage. Recognizing the power of media archives to reflect and shape cultural narratives, MIPoPS is deepening our efforts to ensure that historically underrepresented voices and stories are preserved and made accessible for future generations.

Since its founding, MIPoPS has worked to safeguard audiovisual materials that document the rich and diverse history of the Puget Sound region. In renewing our commitment to IDEA, we are taking concrete steps to integrate these values even deeper into our preservation work, partnerships, and internal operations. These initiatives include:

• Expanding outreach and collaborations with organizations and communities whose histories have been marginalized or underrepresented in traditional archives.
• Continuing to prioritize projects that amplify voices from BIPOC, AAPI, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, and other historically excluded communities.
• Increasing accessibility to preserved media through inclusive public programming and digital access initiatives.

MIPoPS acknowledges that this renewed commitment to IDEA may impact our eligibility for certain federal funding opportunities. For the past 10 years, we have relied heavily on federal grants to support our work. We remain steadfast in our belief that prioritizing inclusivity and equity is essential to fulfilling our mission, even if it necessitates seeking alternative funding sources to continue its work.

Understanding and preserving our past is critical to making informed and equitable choices for the future. When organizations choose to discontinue observances and celebrations honoring diverse identities or remove materials related to them from their collections and exhibits, they erase the struggles, contributions, and cultural significance of historically marginalized communities. This erasure not only distorts historical narratives but also fosters an environment where exclusion and inequity persist. MIPoPS believes that by actively engaging with history and ensuring diverse voices remain part of the archival record, we create a stronger, more inclusive foundation for future generations to build upon.

Preserving history is not just about safeguarding the past—it’s about ensuring that every community has a place in our collective memory. By renewing our commitment to IDEA, we strive to make audiovisual preservation a more inclusive and equitable field, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued. MIPoPS invites partners, organizations, and individuals to join our mission to create a more inclusive archival landscape. We welcome conversations about collaboration and encourage communities to reach out with their preservation needs.

For more information on MIPoPS and to explore partnership opportunities, please visit our website or contact us.