The living archive
Preserving music history means more than storing objects. It means making the people, sounds and ideas behind them accessible to new generations.
An Atari ST, an Akai sampler, a club flyer, a promo record or a pirate radio recording can become a teaching object. Each reveals how music was made, shared and experienced.
We explore the history of independent labels, record shops, clubs, radio and communities through records, equipment, artwork, photography, film, fashion, documents and oral histories.
Keeping the stories behind the music alive.
A founding collection
The Suburban Base archive can provide a founding collection for the Foundation's heritage work. We also want to work with others to document and share collections through appropriate donations, loans and digitisation, respecting ownership and intellectual property.
Beyond preservation
Heritage can inspire commissions for artists, filmmakers, musicians, photographers and designers. Documentary projects can preserve first-hand testimony while creating paid creative work, skills and material the public can enjoy.
Exhibitions, publishing, films and collaborative projects can connect generations and return music history to the communities that made it.
See the vision for a permanent home →