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Potential Sources of Funding for Digitisation Projects

Last updated: 07 January 2009
Published in: Managing a project | Digitising analogue media |
Tags: funding | sustainability |

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This document presents a selection of potential funding sources, which may be called upon to fund digitisation project work. Both public and private sector funders are included.

Disclaimer

While every effort is made to provide up-to-date information, funding schemes may be subject to change or cancellation at any time. This document is to be used as a guide only: conditions, application criteria, deadlines and other detailed information can be found on a funding organisations' own website.

JISC Digital Media is happy to review technical apendices for applications relating to the creation, preservation or use of digital media. We can also advise on working with standards and help you write technical appendices for your application.

Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)

The JISC offers directed funding to projects that support the development of ICT in further and higher education, of special interest might be their dedicated JISC Digitisation Programme. Calls for proposals are issued as JISC Circulars and also Invitations to Tender. Both can be accessed and downloaded from the JISC website.

JISC does not generally provide funding for unsolicited proposals. However, the JISC committees are generally prepared to consider suggestions for areas of future development. If you have an idea for a project, you are expected to send a description of the project work to the relevant committee's secretary.

JISC Executive
Northavon House
Coldharbour Lane
Bristol
BS16 1QD
Telephone: 0117 931 7403

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

There are a number of funding streams that are run by the AHRC that will support the creation of digital resources. Further detailed information can be found on the AHRC website.

AHRC
Whitefriars
Lewins Mead
Bristol
BS1 2AE
Telephone: 0117 987 6500

The British Academy

The British Academy supports digitisation of humanities and social science resources through a number of research grants including: British Academy Research Development Award (BARDAs) and Small Research grants.

The British Academy
10 Carlton House Terrace
London
SW1Y 5AH
Telephone: 020 7969 5200

Scottish Museums Council

This is a membership organisation for local museums and galleries in Scotland. Grants are made available to organisations that have full membership of the SMC (Scottish Museum Council). Funding streams include: The Main Grants Scheme, the Small Grants Scheme, Show Scotland grants, the Recognition Fund, the Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust Fund and Collections: Research and Travel Bursaries.

Scottish Museums Council
20/22 Torphichen Street
Edinburgh
EH3 8JB
Telephone: 0131 229 7465

The Heritage Lottery Fund

The Heritage Lottery Fund uses money form the National Lottery to provide grants to support a wide range of projects that open up the nation's heritage for everyone to enjoy.

The Heritage Grants programme supports projects that "conserve and enhance our diverse heritage or encourage more people to be involved in their heritage or both. Projects should also make sure that everyone can learn about, have access to and enjoy their heritage."

The Heritage Lottery Fund operates regionally but is co-ordinated through a central office.

The Heritage Lottery Fund
7 Holbein Place
London
SW1W 8NR
Telephone: 020 7591 6000

Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI)

AHI’s Interpret Britain and Ireland Awards Scheme has been recognising the most innovative and inspiring interpretation for the last 23 years. The scheme aims to rewards best practice effectively. This scheme is currently being updated, details can be found on the AHI’s website.

Association for Heritage Interpretation
37 Cholmeley Road
Reading
RG1 3NQ
Telephone: 01189 664 894

Association of Independent Museums (AIM)

AIM provides a thriving network of information and help for members. Thanks to the generosity of the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation the AIM Sustainability scheme is set to continue. Independent museums in London are also now eligible for grants.

AIM
4 Clayhall Road
Gosport
Hampshire
PO12 2BY
Telephone: 02392 587751

Clore Duffield Foundation

The Clore Duffield Main Grants Programme does not fund individuals, but it can match lottery funding, fund capital redevelopments and provide project, programme and ongoing funding. The Foundation hopes to continue to maintain a balance between supporting large-scale projects with far-reaching effects and small-scale local community endeavours.

The Clore Duffield Foundation
Studio 3
Chelsea Manor Studios
Flood Street
London
SW3 5SR
Telephone: 020 7351 6061

Marc Fitch Fund

The Marc Fitch Fund offers awards to individuals and organisations in order to catalogue, conserve and make use of archives (especially those relating to ecclesiastical, antiquarian, archaeological or historical studies). The emphasis is on the regional and local history of the British Isles.

Marc Fitch Fund
P.O. Box 207
Chipping Norton
Oxon
OX7 3ZQ
Telephone: 01608 811 944

The Mercers' Company

Heritage applications to the Mercers’ Company are considered within the areas of library/archive conservation. Applications within the Company's heritage category are considered from all parts of the UK although there is a preference for projects in London, the south east of England and the West Midlands.

The Mercers' Company
Mercers' Hall
Ironmonger Lane
London
EC2V 8HE
Telephone: 020 7776 7239

Museums Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)

The MLA promotes best practice in museums, libraries and archives, to inspire innovative, integrated and sustainable services for all. The MLA supports the sector in a variety of ways, ranging from financial grants for improvement and other projects.

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)
Grosvenor House
14 Bennetts Hill
Birmingham B2 5RS
Telephone: 0121 345 7300

European Community Funding

There are many funding initiatives in the European Community that could provide grants for capital projects and programmes for archives in the United Kingdom. The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council monitors developments in Europe.

Tynan Rodger
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
16 Queen Anne's Gate
London
SW1H 9AA
Telephone: 020 7273 1452

Museums Association

The Museums Association administers a number of funds including the Kathy Callow Trust, designated to enhance collections. Applications are welcomed from anyone working within the profession provided they meet the criteria governing each fund.

Museums Association
24 Calvin Street
London
E1 6NW
Telephone: 020 7426 6970

National Heritage Memorial Fund

The fund offers grants to help acquire, maintain or preserve any object or collection which is of outstanding scenic, historic, aesthetic, architectural, scientific, or artistic interest. The ‘memorial’ in the title shows that these grants are made to preserve in memory those who gave their lives for this country.

National Heritage Memorial Fund
7 Holbein Place
London
SW1W 8NR
Telephone: 0207 591 6042

National Lottery Big Lottery Fund

Big Lottery Fund gives grants to projects that ‘improve health, education and the environment and support voluntary groups, helping those most in need’. There is no reason in principle why projects in any area of the heritage should not be eligible for a grant, provided they fulfil the primary objectives of the fund.

The Big Lottery Fund
1 Plough Place
London
EC4A 1DE
Telephone: 08454 10 20 30

Pilgrim Trust

'Preservation & Scholarship' is one of two major areas of interest for the Trust and the Trustees currently aim to allocate about 60% of annual grants under this heading.
The fund covers the conservation of works of art, books, manuscripts, photographs and documents, and museum objects, where normal facilities for such work are not available, including records associated with archaeology, historic buildings and the landscape.
The fund also covers the promotion of knowledge through academic research and its dissemination, for which public funds are not available, including cataloguing within museums, galleries, libraries and archives, and institutions where historic, scientific or archaeological records are preserved. Applications for the cost of preparing such work for publication will be considered, but not the publication itself.

The Pilgrim Trust
Clutha House
10 Storeys Gate
London
SW1P 3AY
Telephone: 020 7222 4723

The Wellcome Trust

The purpose of the Wellcome Trust's Research Resources in Medical History grant scheme is to provide funding for high quality projects to catalogue and preserve significant history of medicine collections, with the aim of making such collections available to medical historians and researchers. It also aims to support, where applicable, projects based around the production of digital surrogates to improve access and reduce handling of fragile material.

Wellcome Trust
215 Euston Road
London
NW1 2BE
Telephone: 020 7611 8885

Further information

Directory of Grant-Making Trusts

The Directory of Grant-Making Trusts is an overall guide to charitable funding and is published periodically in association with the Charitable Aid Foundation. Some of these trusts have strict criteria and make grants only to registered charities, or universities while others have no such restrictions.

CORDIS

The CORDIS website provides information on EU funding opportunities such as those prioritised within the Framework Programmes.

The Times Higher Education Supplement

This weekly paper advertises calls for proposals and announcements of funding opportunities. The information is also available online via the THES website.

Research Research

This subscription service provides information on funding opportunities around the world. It also provides support for those who are making grant applications through documentation available on the ResearchResearch website. Subscription can be as an individual but it is worth checking whether your institution has a site license.

UK Research Office

This service provides up-to-date information on funding for European Higher Education and research. The seven UK grant-awarding Research Councils have funded the UK Research Office. Information is provided on the EU Framework Programmes and other funding organisations.