The Melisande Charles Legacy Fund

Honoring a Pioneering Media Artist

Melisande Charles (1930–2017) was a groundbreaking digital media artist whose work bridged the worlds of technology, performance, and visual storytelling. Her creative output—ranging from experimental video installations to multimedia performances—provides a rare window into the intersection of art and technology from the 1970s through the early 2000s.

Thanks to two grants from the Minnesota Historical Society’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, Minnesota Media Arts (MNMA) has preserved and digitized the majority of her collection, creating a secure foundation for long-term access and research.

What We’ve Accomplished 

• Phase I (2023–2024):
  Completed a full re-boxing and re-labeling of the collection, improved descriptive and technical metadata, over 150 media assets, and produced a Society of American Archivists (SAA)-compliant Finding Aid. This stabilized fragile videotapes and organized the materials for long-term care.
• Phase II (2024–2025):
  Digitized 42 additional unique motion media assets into Preservation Masters (PM) and Access Masters (AM).
  
  Scanned over 1,500 two-dimensional (2D) objects including project notes, drawings, and Polaroid images that trace Melisande’s creative process.
  
  Migrated the collection into a new Network Addressable Storage (NAS) system for secure preservation.
  
  Launched a curated Vimeo Showcase with selected works for public and researcher access.

Together, these projects have ensured that the Melisande Charles Media Collection is preserved, cataloged, and ready for future generations to study and enjoy.

*These programs have been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society.

What’s Next — How Your Gift Helps

With your support, the Melisande Charles Legacy Fund will:

• Maintain and expand the digital media collection with new uploads to the Vimeo showcase.
• Sustain long-term preservation of fragile media and scanned 2D assets.
• Produce new curated video features from Melisande’s works and interviews, making her voice and vision more accessible.
• Support ongoing metadata updates and finding aid enhancements so that researchers, educators, and artists can continue to explore her contributions.
• Start the planning process for a documentary video about her life and work.

Every dollar ensures that this rare collection remains a living, accessible archive—not just a record of the past, but an inspiration for the future.

See Her Vision
Watch our featured video The Final Word excerpt (2016), created with Melisande Charles just a year before her passing, Melisande Charles Good Life 1931-2017. 

You can also explore the Melisande Charles Media Collection Showcase on Vimeo

Join Us in Preserving her Legacy

A trailblazing woman in the early era of video art, Melisande Charles brought bold ideas to life through experimental media. From the 1970s through 2013, her art illuminated the possibilities of technology as a tool for expression, community, and transformation. 

By giving today, you help us safeguard her legacy and ensure her pioneering spirit continues to inspire artists, students, and communities.

Please Donate Now on our GiveMN campaign or connect us at Minnesota Media Arts to be contacted regard direct donations by check.