Collecting and preserving media art in Portuguese museums

This research aims to map the practices surrounding the collection of media art in Portuguese museums, with a particular focus on the preservation strategies employed by relevant institutions. At the core of the study is a critical analysis of data gathered through an online survey, completed by the following institutions: Museu da Bienal de Cerveira, Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Ser-ralves, Centro de Arte Oliva, Coleção de Arte Contemporânea do Estado, and Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea do Chiado.The findings indicate a significant shortage of specialized conservators in Portugal, along with a lack of standardized terminology in the preservation of media art. The brevity of the sample suggests a lack of transparency from the institutions and limited public access to digital documentation con-cerning our object of study. Nonetheless, this sample provides valuable insight into current practises that typically remain inaccessible to the public.