Documentation lies at the heart of the Canon II project, building on the foundations of the original Canon project. Preserving theatre technology and design heritage requires more than storing objects. It demands structured, accessible documentation that serves archives, professionals, students, teachers, and researchers alike.

A shared framework

Canon II connects documentation to both internal and external data sources, creating a richer context and deeper understanding of each object, design, or process.

Our approach

We develop and test a range of techniques and concepts to ensure documentation is both precise and practical.

Documenting techniques

Our methods aim to capture not just what something is, but how, where and why it was used:

• Capturing detailed measurements, plans, schemes, images, manuals, models and stories
• Photographing objects and materials
• Recording the use of equipment in real contexts
• Creating interactive and 3D models
• Documenting both design processes and final outcomes
• Scanning objects in 3D
• Performing text recognition and analysis
• Training AI through specialized repositories
• Recognizing images and logos
• Recording oral histories in audio and video

These experiments result in practical guidelines, offering concrete tools tailored to the field.

Safeguarding software

Digital heritage requires active maintenance. Documentation must support not only preservation but also continued usability:

• Safeguarding rare file formats (e.g. visualization and editing files).
• Safeguarding software needed to access files or operate lighting systems.
• Safeguarding bios content for specialized equipment.

Metadata

Metadata plays a key role in improving the use of sources and repositories in an ethical way. The Canon project looks into the use of metadata embedded in files. By doing so, sharing information (including copyright), the attribution of the authors and the original source becomes possible. But what does metadata include? It adds accessibility through features such as “alt txt”-descriptions and provides captions for publications.

Controlled languages

Consistency is essential when connecting different collections. Canon II further develops a controlled language to ensure clarity across institutions and disciplines. This includes technical building properties, structured naming of equipment, brands and companies, as well as clear typologies for set and lighting design.