The Endangered Archives Programme at the British Library is now accepting
applications for the next round of funding. Detailed information on the
timetable, criteria, eligibility and procedures for applying for a grant is available
on the Programme’s website. The deadline for receipt of preliminary grant
applications is 7 November 2008.
Since it was established four years ago, the Programme has so far funded 90
projects in 45 countries in grants totalling £2.5 million. The Programme is
funded by Arcadia, in pursuit of one of its charitable aims to preserve and
disseminate cultural knowledge and to promote education and research. The
aim of the Programme is to contribute to the preservation of archival material
worldwide that is in danger of destruction, neglect or physical deterioration.
The Programme’s objectives are achieved principally by awarding grants to
applicants to locate relevant endangered archival collections, to arrange their
transfer to a suitable local archival home where possible, and to deposit
copies with local institutions and the British Library. Pilot projects are
particularly welcomed, to investigate the survival of archival collections on a
particular subject, in a discrete region, or in a specific format, and the
feasibility of their recovery.
To be considered for funding under the Programme, the archival material
should relate to a ‘pre-modern' period of a society's history. There is no
prescriptive definition of this, but it may typically mean, for instance, any
period before industrialisation. The relevant time period will therefore vary
according to the society. The endangered archival material will normally be
located in countries where resources and opportunities to preserve such
material are lacking or limited.
For the purposes of the Programme, the term ‘archival material’ is interpreted
widely to include rare printed books, newspapers and periodicals, audio and
audio-visual materials, photographs and manuscripts.
The Programme does not offer grants to support the normal running activities
of an archive, although the Programme may offer support for costs directly
related to the acceptance of relocated material.
The Programme is administered by the British Library and applications are
considered in an annual competition by an international panel of historians and
archivists.
For further details of the projects funded to date as well as application
procedures and documentation, please visit the Programme’s website.
Web: www.bl.uk/endangeredarchives
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