Museum Librarians and Archivists Group

November 24, 2016

TownsWeb Archiving Digitisation Grants

TownsWeb Archiving reveals digitisation grant winners

Following over 99 applications from UK heritage institutions and three weeks of evaluation by an independent judging panel, TownsWeb Archiving has announced the winners of its inaugural TWA Digitisation Grant.

TownsWeb Archiving has announced that the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum redevelopment project and Blackpool Culture’s High Flying Stars Circus Posters project have been declared the winners and runners-up of the TWA Digitisation Grant 2016, receiving £4,000 and £1,000 respectively.

The judging panel for the Grant was composed of three influential heritage industry professionals: Archives & Records Association Chief Executive, John Chambers; HLF appointed Expert Advisor, Claire Adler; and Senior Digitisation Consultant at TownsWeb, Paul Sugden.

Speaking on the Grant and the selection process, John Chambers said:

“I was surprised by the range and quality of the applications. From community groups to national institutions the breadth of material needing digitisation was truly represented, and demonstrated what many of us know already – there is an urgent need to properly fund digitisation before material becomes inaccessible.

Thank you to TWA for putting up a fund, without any catches, that is a step towards meeting the need.”

Speaking about their successful grant win Carol Miller, capital appeal manager at Argyll & Sutherland Regimental Museum, said:

“I’m on a complete high – especially considering the number of applicants for the award and the amount of passion that our team all have for our Museum. We (The Argylls) know of its relevance and importance but a real joy to know that the judges were able to glean that from our application.

When planning our 3-year Redevelopment Project, we acknowledged that management and care of the collection was imperative in providing a lasting legacy of The Argyll story – and digitisation is one of the most important elements of that strand.”

TownsWeb Archiving plans to run the Digitisation Grant again in May 2017.

To find out more about the winning projects here.

Work-based Learning In Practice: A practical workshop for cultural and heritage organisations

by martinflynn

Tate is delighted to invite you to Work-based Learning In Practice: A practical workshop for cultural and heritage organisations, which builds on Tate’s learning from the 2012-2015 ‘Skills for the Future programme’, at Tate Britain on Wednesday 17 February 2016. Attendees are invited to arrive via the Clore Entrance from 12.15 for lunch and registration. The workshop will commence at 13.00.

Tate’s ‘Skills for the Future’ training programme ran for three years, from October 2011 to December 2014, and was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. During this time, 27 trainees successfully completed an 18 month training placement in our Collection Care division and made an important contribution to Tate’s work. Those based in Conservation undertook specialist training, while the trainee Registrars, Art Handlers and Photography Technicians achieved a Diploma in Cultural Heritage, in partnership with the V&A.

As a result of ‘Skills for the Future’, a successful framework for work-based learning was introduced at Tate. We also made a range of changes to our recruitment processes, which ensured that the programme attracted young people from a variety of backgrounds, each of whom brought enthusiasm, new skills and fresh perspectives to the organisation

This afternoon workshop will provide an opportunity for delegates to learn from Tate’s ‘Skills for the Future’ project, discuss the challenges and opportunities of work based learning, and gain practical support and advice.

This event is free to attend, but places are limited and must be booked in advance. Please RSVP to Juliette Boyd juliette.boyd@tate.org.uk or by calling +44(0)20 7821 2956.

December 30, 2015