The Bach Archive's central task is to further knowledge through research into the life and work of Johann Sebastian Bach and the work of the prolific Bach family. Through its multifaceted approach to Bach research, the Bach Archive's publication output reaches academics, practicing musicians, and lay people alike. In addition to the projects undertaken by research staff, the Bach Archive's work also includes occassional symposia–such as the Carl Philippe Emmanuel Bach symposium held in 2014. The research institute collaborates regularly with academic and research-based institutions around the world, most recently the Bach Archive has been collaborating with institutions in Germany and the U.S. for it's Bach Digital project–a digitalization project aiming to upload all extant copies of the works of J. S. Bach and of his family members.