For a few decades now, digitalization has enabled and simplified the processing and distribution of data; digital data are available on the Internet for all users at all times. Basically, however, the conservation of digital content has been subject to an increasingly rapid adaptation to new technical systems. This circumstance creates uncertainty concerning the sustainability of our cultural memory.

Using ten case studies, within the context of the EU research project digital art conservation concepts were developed for the long-term conservation of the type of art works, which have become fragile due to rapidly changing technology. Together with other works from the ZKM collection these ten case studies form the core of Digital Art Works. The Challenges of Conservation. The works open up the broad spectrum of problems in the conservation of digital art and point to the necessity of preservation.