The Midwest region of the United States contains a treasury of rich and diverse collections of film, video and audio recordings from throughout the last century. These historical, educational and artistic collections represent unique local perspectives on Midwest life and art documented in a variety of celluloid and magnetic media. The Midwest Media Archives Alliance was created in order to build an active network of archives, institutions, organizations and individuals who care for audio-visual collections in the Midwest, in order to help preserve, promote and provide access to the region’s dynamic media history.

The MMAA will fulfill this mission by building a comprehensive online resource that is a portal to the region’s collections; providing a regionally focused source of preservation and access information; conducting a survey of audio-visual collections in the Midwest; and by coordinating workshops and events.