NFSA Partners With YouTube, Inducting Tash Sultana, Eddie Woo & More Into Australian Cultural History

Tyler Jenke

“Audiovisual storytelling is the dominant form through which we now express, celebrate and negotiate identity,” said the NFSA’s Chief Curator, Meagan Loader.

WENGIE, Tash Sultana & Bounce Patrol
WENGIE, Tash Sultana & Bounce Patrol(Credit: Supplied)
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The National Film And Sound Archive Of Australia (NFSA) have announced a new partnership with YouTube, inducting ten of the country's "most influential creators" working on the platform into a new national audiovisual collection.

Dubbed the NFSA Creator Capsule, the new collection seeks to represent the "creativity, reach, diversity and cultural impact of Australian creators," with the NFSA collecting not just video assets, but likes, views, and comments as part of its archival process.

The inaugural Creator Capsule will feature a total of 300 videos from ten creators inducted, alongside oral histories and contextual material that goes deep into these creators, their work, and the creative processes.

Creators included in the initial intake include Tash Sultana, whose live-looping sessions were viral successes on YouTube before taking their creator to global stages; multi-hyphenate musician, beauty blogger, and gamer Wengie; and kids’ performers Bounce Patrol.

There’s also mathematics teacher Eddie Woo; independent animators GLITCH; Natalie Tran’s pioneering comedy outlet communitychannel; and Yolŋu bushcraft and culture documenters Outback Boys.

It’s rounded out by scripted comedy creator Superwog; the DIY car builds of Mighty Car Mods; and the inventive local adventures of Beau Miles.

“Audiovisual storytelling is the dominant form through which we now express, celebrate and negotiate identity,” said the NFSA’s Chief Curator, Meagan Loader. “In 50 years, when Australians come to the NFSA to find the audiovisual stories that defined our time, they’ll expect to see YouTube.

“It’s vital we acquire this now to sit alongside our TV, radio, music, podcasts, games and films. This new collaboration with YouTube enriches our collecting by providing insights into platform activity and impact and helps open the door for us to other creators.”

“The NFSA is renowned as the official custodian of Australia’s audiovisual culture. While YouTube empowers everyday Australians to share their stories with a global audience, the NFSA is ensuring these 10 creators become a permanent part of our national heritage,” added Mel Silva, the Vice-President and MD of Google Australia and New Zealand.

“This partnership is a perfect snapshot of everything YouTube represents—cementing these creators’ place in our living cultural record and giving future generations the chance to discover and experience the rich diversity of contemporary digital storytelling.”

Full details about the nascent inductees into the NFSA as part of the inaugural Creator Capsule are available via the NFSA’s website.