Individuals:

What does the Video Data Bank do?

VDB is a non-profit art archive and video distribution service and a department of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a distributor, VDB represents video artists who create work in unlimited editions.  VDB artists choose to make their artwork widely available and are compensated with royalties when it is screened or purchased for use.  VDB works closely with its artists to provide video work on a variety of formats and to set pricing that allows the work to be accessible to multiple audiences. The organization is currently undergoing a large-scale digitization project that will enable online access to its portions of its collection.

Can I purchase viewing copies of  VDB videos for home use?

Yes, though the majority of VDB titles are designated for institutional use only and are not priced for home purchase.  There are a small selection of titles that have been made available by the artists for home use on VHS or DVD. Please inquire if there is a title you are interested in.

What restrictions come with home purchases?

Home purchases come with no public performance rights and cannot be exhibited publicly including any commercial, theatrical, non-profit, or educational presentation. In additional they cannot be duplicated, transferred or uploaded.

How can I access titles that aren’t available for personal sale?

There are a number of options. If you are affiliated with an institution you can make a request that the library purchase the work for their collection.  Many librarians are happy to receive patron suggestions.  Many VDB titles are also available for public libraries and community centers for reduced pricing.  Individuals are welcome to put together public screenings for which they can rent the titles.

Can I view video works at the VDB?

Absolutely.  Our screening room is open to the public from 9 to 5, Monday through Friday and free of charge.  Please call or email to schedule an appointment and we can prepare most titles in our collection for viewing. 

Can I purchase VDB work for a private art collection?

Yes. Individuals can purchase Archival BetaSP or Digibeta copies of VDB titles to accession to private art collections. Archival purchase conveys full screening and exhibition rights to the work on the premises of the collection.  Those choosing to make making archival purchases are solidifying the ongoing preservation and future accessibility of seminal artworks within our collection.

Educators & Libraries:

What does the Video Data Bank do?

VDB is a non-profit art archive and video distribution service and a department of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a distributor, VDB represents video artists who create work in unlimited editions.  VDB artists choose to make their artwork widely available and are compensated with royalties when it is screened or purchased for use.  VDB works closely with its artists to provide video work on a variety of formats and to set pricing that allows the work to be accessible to multiple audiences. The organization is currently undergoing a large-scale digitization project that will enable online access to its portions of its collection. 

What video formats are offered for Educational Purchase?

Libraries can purchase our titles for their collections on VHS and DVD.  If faculty or students need a video for one-time classroom use VDB also offers its titles for rental on BetaSP, MiniDV, and VHS.

The quoted cost seems high. What does this price reflect?

50% of every rental or purchase fee paid to the VDB goes directly to the artist in the form of a royalty.  As a non-profit organization dedicated to improving access to historical video work VDB invests their portion of proceeds into ongoing storage and preservation projects as well as the development of new video art programs and collections.  These archival activities result in institutions receiving the best quality copies available and in a broadening of the range of works available for research, education, and public screening.

Why should our library invest in video art?

Having a budget for media purchases is akin to having a budget for library books.  The works in VDB collection resonate not only with video and arts coursework but with programs in American history, journalism, political science, performance, gender studies, anthropology and other liberal arts.

What rights and permissions come with an Educational Purchase?

An educational DVD purchase from the VDB comes with full public performance rights for the life of the disc.  The DVD can be screened in classrooms, libraries, auditorium or other screening venues on the premises of the purchasing institutions.

What restrictions come with an Educational Purchase?

An educational purchase DVD can not be copied, uploaded, or placed on looped display within the institution. Public screening rights pertain only to the location of the purchasing institution and the DVD may not be loaned for off-site use.

What if my library owns Video Data Bank titles on an old video format?

All VDB purchases are for the standard life of the tape or disc. Copying or transferring the works is prohibited.  If your library has a title that is in high use, it may be an investment to purchase the tape on an archival format such as BetaSP or Digibeta.  These stable formats have proven lasting, and purchase allows that the title may be legally transferred onto VHS or DVD screening copies for regular use.

Curators, Programmers & Exhibition Spaces:

What does the Video Data Bank do?

VDB is a non-profit art archive and video distribution service and a department of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a distributor, VDB represents video artists who create work in unlimited editions.  VDB artists choose to make their artwork widely available and are compensated with royalties when it is screened or purchased for use.  VDB works closely with its artists to provide video work on a variety of formats and to set pricing that allows the work to be accessible to multiple audiences.  The organization is currently undergoing a large-scale digitization project that will enable online access to its portions of its collection.

What are the rental options available to me?

VDB titles can be rented on DVD for ongoing looped exhibition.  The weekly rental fee reflects the continuous usage of the title over an extended period of time.  If you are considering a single screening or a screening series VDB titles are available for rental on BetaSP, MiniDV or VHS.

Can I receive previews of VDB work?

Previews for titles in consideration for rental or purchase are available for rental on VHS for a $10 per tape fee.  Previews come with no public performance rights of any kind and must be returned.  A limited number of new titles are available on preview compilation DVDs for rental.

The quoted cost seems high. What does this price reflect?

50% of every rental or purchase fee paid to the VDB goes directly to the artist in the form of a royalty.  As a non-profit organization dedicated to improving access to historical video work VDB invests their portion of proceeds into ongoing storage and preservation projects as well as the development of new video art programs and collections.  These archival activities result in institutions receiving the best quality copies available and in a broadening of the range of works available for research, education, and public screening.

I am planning a program that is non-profit, independent, and educational.  Do rental fees still apply?

Yes.  VDB is strongly dedicated to its mission of access and preservation as well as the idea that artists should be compensated for the use of their work. Our existence depends on support of the video and arts community.  All rentals and purchases are already subsidized by our generous funding institutions.

Can I make an Educational Purchase of a title?

Yes. Exhibition spaces and museums can purchase VDB titles on DVD for curator reference, library research, and classroom use.  These educational purchases cannot be publicly screened or exhibited.

What does an Archival Purchase offer my institution?

An archival purchase of a VDB title, conveys full screening and exhibition rights to the work to the purchasing institution. The purchase comes on stable tape formats, archival BetaSP or Digibeta, and allows that the title may be legally transferred to VHS or DVD screening copies for regular use. Any streaming or uploads on internet or internal intranets remains prohibited.

Does the VDB every consider collaborations, sponsorship or partnerships?

Yes.  While the VDB is limited in the discounts and support it can offer we welcome the opportunity to build partnerships and learn of new video programs. If you feel that a particular event or project contributes to the VDB mission we are happy to review your proposal for possible collaboration.