“We couldn’t be happier for ChromaDiverse.” says Jason Lee, Partner, and Applied Data & Analytics Lead at MNP Digital. “They’re a unique and important partner of ours and we’re excited that this project is being recognized for the boundary-pushing technology we’ve developed for the archiving of performing arts.”

ChromaDiverse is a 501c3 non-profit that focuses on helping performing arts organizations preserve, protect, and leverage their archival materials (photos, videos, films, documents, press, posters, music, and performance programs). Their proprietary software, using ‘ChromaDiverse Smart Capture’, uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to tag and identify meta-data that can then be accurately harvested from printed performance programs, removing the time-consuming tedium that is part of that the archival process. In addition to ‘Smart Capture’, ChromaDiverse makes accessing this archived information effortless through their Digital Vault portals.

MNP Digital has worked to assist ChromaDiverse in the development of the AI and ML solution, providing applied data services to help push the capabilities of the application further than ever before. Leveraging Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services, MNP Digital focused on:

• Enhancing indexing and search
• Creating a machine learning identification model
• Cognitive Services database integrations
• Automatic tagging based on model results
• Documenting a process to return “exceptions” (like misspelling of names between the programs and the provided dictionaries)

“We’re so honoured to receive this Distinguished Service Award.” says Eric Waldman, Chief Operating Officer at ChromaDiverse. “This is a significant breakthrough, and we are proud that our services will make preserving legacy materials easier. MNP Digital allows us to continuously innovate and improve on what we bring to the archiving and performing arts communities.”

As stated by the SAA, they were most impressed by ChromaDiverse’s outstanding service to the performance arts community and the Company’s dedication to protect diverse multicultural arts organizations from social and artistic erasure.

Imogen Smith, Director of Archiving and Preservation at Dance/USA, wrote “ChromaDiverse deserves recognition for their innovative approach to assisting dance and cultural organizations with preserving, organizing, and accessing their digital archives, and for their commitment to increasing equity by lowering barriers for access to archiving services and resources.”

The SAA’s Distinguished Service Award specifically recognizes archival institutions, education programs, non-profit organizations, and government organizations, as chosen by an awards committee that is comprised of three members and a co-chair.