2024 – 2025

Cataloguing Grants Awarded 2025

Bertz Associates – £45,082

Bertz Associates, a community heritage organisation, alongside the Library of Birmingham will use their grant to catalogue the Haas collection. Lisel Haas (1898 – 1989), a queer Jewish photographer, emigrated to Birmingham with her partner in 1938. As a successful photographer in Germany, she re-established herself in the UK despite institutional and cultural barriers. Working with artist-facilitators and community groups, Bertz Associates will consult on the direction of cataloguing and contribute to archival interpretation.

Councillor Saima Suleman, Cabinet Member for Digital, Culture, Heritage & Tourism, says: “For over 200 years, thousands have moved to Birmingham seeking work, community, and belonging. The city’s archives at the Library of Birmingham hold millions of documents capturing this rich history. Thanks to funding from Archives Revealed and the expertise of Bertz Associates, the Lisel Haas archive, documenting the life of the German-born photographer who settled in Birmingham in 1938, will be more thoroughly catalogued and widely shared. Her story beautifully reflects Birmingham’s diverse and vibrant identity, and it’s wonderful to spotlight her story.”

Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society – £48,506

Birmingham Botanical Gardens is the green heart of the city and one of the UK’s most significant historic botanic gardens, remaining remarkably intact and independent since 1829. It is comprised of 15-acres of grade II* listed landscape, Victorian glasshouses, and approximately 30,000 global plants. Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society will use their grant to catalogue their records and those of the Gardens, sharing the archive with communities and university partners through engagement projects and volunteering opportunities.

Jen Ridding, Head of Engagement and Learning, says: “The Gardens are unique in Birmingham’s heritage and an integral part of the city’s physical, cultural and emotional landscape.  Thanks to Archives Revealed, this project will reveal scientific and social stories of local, national and international significance.  At a pivotal moment in our history, and in the context of climate change and biodiversity loss, we will activate this unique archive to engage, inform, and inspire our diverse audiences and communities.”

The Bluecoat – £49,959

The Bluecoat is the UK’s first arts centre, housed in Liverpool’s oldest city-centre building. Its archive charts the organisation’s development, its exhibitions and events programmes, and architectural changes the building has undergone. This project will enable the appointment of a professional archivist to create a single cataloguing system for the archive, working with in-house expertise, volunteers, and Liverpool Record Office.

Bryan Biggs, The Bluecoat’s Director of Cultural Legacies, says: “We’re delighted to receive this Archives Revealed cataloguing grant. It will help us preserve the archive, enhance its digital presence, and extend its reach, making material easier to access. This will bring the Bluecoat story – of an eighteenth-century charity school transformed into a thriving centre for the contemporary arts – to more people, from historians, academics and curators to local history enthusiasts, schools and tourists”.

Deaf History Scotland – £50,000

Deaf History Scotland (DHS) will use their Archive Revealed Cataloguing Grant to help them catalogue the Scottish Deaf Archive (SDA) which consists of approximately 80 collections of personal papers and organisational records from across Scotland dating from c.1820 to the present day. The grant will also be used to train volunteers to ensure sustainable, deaf and community-led management of the archive. DHS hopes this will introduce young deaf people to archiving, conservation and heritage pathways.

Margaret Aitken, Convener, says: “I am delighted that DHS has received this grant so that the Scottish Deaf Archive will be fully catalogued. I look forward to seeing that deaf people, especially young deaf people, will acquire skills, ensuring that the SDA remains a living and growing resource for Scotland’s deaf community”.

East Sussex County Council – £39,500

East Sussex and Brighton and Hove Record Office (ESBHRO) will be undertaking a project to catalogue and make accessible the archive of much-loved Sussex based illustrator and author Raymond Briggs. The archive is comprised of material including sketchbooks, photographs and correspondence from Briggs’ home in East Sussex, where he created renowned works including The Snowman and Father Christmas. Based at The Keep, ESBHRO are the local authority place of deposit for the County and City, preserving not only the records of local government but the wider histories of the area, it’s people, organisations and way of life.

Ellie King, ESBHRO Archivist, says: “we are thrilled to have received this cataloguing grant from Archives Revealed. With a dedicated project archivist and a team of volunteers, this project offers a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with the public through a collection that will be of interest to a broad range of audiences.”

Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People – £48,626

The Disabled People’s Archive is based in Manchester Central Library in partnership with Archives+. Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) are a pan-impairment Disabled People’s Organisation, 100% run and controlled by disabled people working to promote the independence and inclusion of disabled people in society and identify and challenge the barriers preventing disabled people from fully participating in society.

GMCDP will oversee the cataloguing of donated collections that, despite having previously been restricted, provide a detailed history of disabled people’s fight for Independent Living. GMCDP will catalogue these collections and make them accessible, ensuring all items are available in accessible formats, including text only, large print, with video accompanied by subtitles, transcript, and BSL – a practice embedded in the organisation’s ethos.

This project will ensure the stories of disabled people, the consequences of societal barriers and the impacts of policy developments are not forgotten. The Disabled People’s Archive will showcase the history of disabled people coming together and developing a shared community, culture, and disability rights movement for future generations.

Ella Clarke, Lead Development Worker, says: “this project will be a fabulous opportunity to develop our understanding of the history of the Independent Living Movement. Many of these items in the “Choice and Control” project have previously been restricted, and they hold historical, cultural and societal significance to this day. These collections contain the works of disabled people and our organisations from the 1970s to the 1990s and examines the significant impact it had at a political and societal level, regionally, nationally and even internationally.”

The Historic England Foundation – £50,000

The Historic England Archive is the nation’s archive of the historic environment and plays an important role in telling the story of England. This project will catalogue and celebrate the remarkable photographic collection of Janette Rosing, c.1853-1950s. With images from every English county, the photographs capture architecture, landscape and communities, many of which have undergone profound change. The images were taken by leading photographers of the time and contain examples of the era’s photographic processes, creating a powerful document of social history.

The project will enable engagement with audiences in south-west England, focusing on inclusion, wellbeing and the question of what makes places special.

Janet Tall, Head of Archive and Library, Historic England says: “the evocative images give intimate glimpses into street life, country scenes and coastal communities, showcasing Janette Rosing’s expert eye for quality. Cataloguing will enable the engagement and research potential of this exceptional collection to be realised.”

Holocaust Survivors Friendship Association – £35,000

Holocaust Centre North is dedicated to educating the public about the Holocaust and its lasting impact to raise awareness of human rights, freedom, and equality. Its permanent exhibition and living archive tell global stories through local voices— those of Holocaust survivors and refugees who resettled in the North of England. Archives Revealed will support the cataloguing of 100 family archive collections, placing them more firmly at the heart of the Centre’s public and educational programmes.

Dr Alessandro Bucci, Director, says: “The Holocaust exposed the very worst of what humanity is capable of: moral collapse, complicity, and the systematic dehumanisation of others. Our archive bears witness to that devastation. Through engagement, we champion the best of what people can be: caring, creative, courageous, and committed to remembering, with historical rigour and a deep responsibility to the future.”

London Borough of Brent – £45,900

Brent Museum and Archives (BMA) is a local authority service, located in The Library at Willesden Green. With the support of their Archives Revealed grant, BMA will catalogue the Brent Trades Council collection (BTUC) which documents the BTUC’s involvement in a wide variety of local and national campaigns and issues. By undertaking the cataloguing project, the service hopes the under-told stories of the BTUC’s involvement in social activism and political organisation will build relevance and engagement with Brent’s local communities who will be able to connect to the diverse voices and subjects in the collection.

Councillor Promise Knight, Cabinet Member for Customer Experience, Resident Support and Culture, says: “this funding is a fantastic opportunity to preserve and share the powerful history of the Brent Trades Council. These archives capture the voices and struggles of our local communities and workers. Through this project, we can ensure that their stories inspire and educate future generations.”

The Mills Archive Trust – £40,807

The Mills Archive Trust is an archive and charity dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of milling. Through their project, The Wright Records: Preserving Millwrighting Heritage, the Trust will catalogue four large millwrighting collections, spanning from the early 20th century to the present day. They will also share new stories and create records of millwrighting techniques in collaboration with contemporary millwrights. The project will connect diverse audiences and will play an important role in supporting the ongoing maintenance of historic mills.

Elizabeth Bartram, Trust Director, says: “Caring for windmills and watermills is a key theme within the collections and activities of the Trust. This funding will go a long way in helping us address the needs of a range of people, not least those involved in the care and repair of these iconic structures. We are grateful for this support and are excited to start work on this innovative project”.

National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland – £50,000

National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland is the custodian of an internationally significant, multi-disciplinary collection that underpins a group of four museums, including the Ulster Transport Museum. Harland & Wolff is renowned for its marine engineering, technical innovation and world-class craftsmanship for over 160 years.

There are hundreds of thousands of plans within its archive including those of arguably the most famous ship in the world, Titanic. ‘From Drawing Board to Slipway: Discovering the Harland & Wolff Ship Plan Archive’ seeks to catalogue this archive; a process which will make the archive accessible to wider audiences through digital platforms, educational resources and community engagement.

William Blair, Director of Collections, says: “this project will unlock an incredible story of design innovation from this vast repository of maritime history. A dedicated archivist will play a crucial role in researching, cataloguing and signposting the contents of this extraordinary archive, ensuring that it can be actively used to inspire present and future generations.”

The National Museum of the Royal Navy – £49,286

The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) is dedicated to connecting Navy with Nation by sharing inspiring stories and experiences that change how people see the world. As guardians of over four million world-class artefacts—including ships, aircraft, and collections—the Museum engages around one million people annually with the rich and evolving history of the Royal Navy’s four fighting forces.

NMRN will use its Archives Revealed Cataloguing Grant to explore the story of naval aviation by cataloguing the Fairey Aviation Company Archive. This important collection will assist teams working on Barracuda Live: The Big Rebuild—a decade-long effort to reconstruct a complete Second World War Fairey Barracuda aircraft to exact factory specifications.

Louisa Blight, Head of Collections and Research, says: “we are hugely grateful to Archives Revealed for this support. It feels like we’re building a life-sized Airfix model—and now we’ve finally got the instruction manual!”

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – £49,983

The mission of the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG), Kew, is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the wellbeing of people and the future of all life on Earth. Kew’s Archives hold a wealth of information on plant collecting during the British Empire.

This project will break down barriers to access through an inclusive methodology and community involvement. RBG will use their grant to catalogue personal archives of individuals involved in botany during the days of the British Empire, focusing on figures less commonly associated with botany and foregrounding hidden voices e.g. women and Indigenous peoples.

The project archivist will unlock collections through a series of creative workshops with communities, which will foster knowledge exchange and a deeper understanding of the collections’ multifaceted histories. They also plan to put on a small exhibition and co-curate a booklet which will be later archived.

Fiona Ainsworth, Head of Library and Archives, says: “this timely and important project makes collections discoverable and uncovers hidden stories within Kew’s Archives.”

Sheffield City Archives – £48,292

Sheffield City Archives will use their grant to catalogue and digitise unseen material from the archive of Martin F. Bedford which was deposited to them in 2024. Born in 1955, Bedford moved from Kent to Sheffield in the 1970s to attend Psalter Lane Art College and became a legend on the Sheffield music scene, creating gig posters and artwork for over 40 years right up until his death in 2023. His archive contains a dizzying array of material including hundreds of original silk-screen printed posters for gigs at The Leadmill and other Sheffield venues covering all genres of music from punk and new wave to reggae and rock.

Councillor Kurtis Crossthorn, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee at Sheffield City Council, says: “This project will enable us to make accessible over 80 boxes of rare, unseen material from this incredible visual and historical archive which tells not only the story of one man’s life, but of his adopted city and the contribution he made to Sheffield’s modern cultural identity.”

Topolski Memoir Limited – £50,000

Topolski Memoir Limited (TML) will use their grant to develop The Feliks Topolski Archive (FTA) into an accessible resource for researchers, students, artists and the public, unlocking its visual depictions of the last century for future generations. FTA is a unique collection of drawings, paintings, prints, photographs and personal writings created by Feliks Topolski RA (1907–1989). This prolific artist was known for his distinctive visual reportage of key 20th-century events (World War Two, Swinging Sixties, Vietnam War), figures (Queen Elizabeth II, Mahatma Gandhi, Malcolm X) and depictions of everyday life.

With support from University of Arts London, TML will use this cataloguing project as a springboard to offer opportunities for students and the public to engage with and respond to the archive’s contents through print projects, workshops, talks and exhibitions.

Lucien Topolski, Director of Topolski Memoir, says: “This Archives Revealed Cataloguing Grant is going to open the archive’s contents, largely unstudied since Topolski’s passing, allowing its artistic vitality and historical insights to be discovered by a new generation of people.”

University of Bristol – £49,984

The University of Bristol Theatre Collection, one of the world’s leading collections relating to the history of British theatre and live art, will produce a catalogue and Artist’s Guide for the Fox and Gill Archive. The archive of internationally renowned artists, John Fox MBE and Sue Gill, documents their work as the “Dead Good Guides” – pioneers of secular rites of passage. It also provides insights into the experimental, community-driven theatre company Welfare State International of which they were founding members.

Jo Elsworth, Associate Director (Culture and Collections) says: “John and Sue’s work responds to times of transition, crisis and community change and the archive receives high levels of creative and research interest. This project will bring artists and academics together, offer intergenerational volunteering opportunities and fund creative workshops at the University’s community library in Barton Hill, Bristol, honouring John and Sue’s belief that art should be accessible to all.”

Cataloguing Grants Awarded 2024

The Mulberry Bush Organisation – £39,615

With the help of Archives Revealed, The Mulberry Bush are undertaking a project to catalogue the historical records of The Cassel Hospital, Surrey. After opening in 1921, The Cassel played a unique and significant role in de-medicalising hospital treatment for people struggling with poor mental health. By the 1950s it was operating as a therapeutic community with group therapy and case reviews. Since then, the hospital has focused on the treatment of complex mental health needs and remains one of the few therapeutic community hospitals under the NHS in 2025.
This cataloguing project will include artist-led workshops based on the archives, and the gathering of oral histories in collaboration with On The Record, The Cassel Hospital Charitable Trust, as well as current and past hospital patients and staff.
Debra Doggett, Senior Archivist, said: “The Mulberry Bush is thrilled to receive this grant from Archives Revealed. We look forward to seeing how we can engage new audiences through creative use of archives, and how this collection might shape the study of mental health history.”

The Royal Academy of Dance – £49,352

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) will use the Archives Revealed Cataloguing Grant to support them with cataloguing the Kenneth MacMillan Archive, which was generously donated to the RAD by Deborah, Lady MacMillan last year. The RAD is a world leader in dance education and training that believes passionately in its power to transform lives through dance for the better.

Sir Kenneth MacMillan (1929-1992) was the leading choreographer of his generation, creating world-renowned ballets including Romeo and Juliet, Gloria, Manon and Mayerling. The archive – which includes photographs, diaries, and letters – paints a rich picture of MacMillan’s life covering his personal, artistic and business contributions to ballet throughout the 20^th century.

Following the cataloguing project, the RAD will celebrate MacMillan’s significant achievements and provide opportunities for engagement with the collection through displays and events.

RAD’s Artistic Director, Alexander Campbell said: “As a huge personal fan of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s work, I am delighted that the RAD has received this Archives Revealed Cataloguing Grant. A visionary choreographer who challenged the status quo and shaped our understanding of what ballet is and can be, the opportunity to gain further understanding about Sir Kenneth and his process is a gift to all. This is a hugely important historic collection, and we look forward to sharing it with the world.”

Sandwell Archives – £49,055

The “Illuminating Chance Glass” project will see the Chance Brothers Ltd collection held at Sandwell Archives catalogued in full for the wider benefit of audiences, stakeholders, and staff. This one-year project will see the recruitment of a Project Archivist and a volunteer team. It will also involve collaborations with The Chance Heritage Trust and Stourbridge Glass Museum, new digital content and a programme of engagement activities including a touring exhibition. The collection represents a historic point in time when the production of glassworks from the factory on Spon Lane in Smethwick had a significant impact internationally. The collection spans the period between the early 17th Century and the early 20th Century.

Andrew Wade, Business Manager for Museums, Libraries and Archives, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council said: “This funding will enable Sandwell Archives and a team of new volunteers to unlock fascinating stories within our internationally significant Chance Glasswork collection. It will also help us to engage with some exciting new stakeholders and widen our audience engagement through new partnerships. We are very grateful to Archives Revealed as this will have long lasting impact for our service moving forward. We look forward to sharing our progress and learning with our peers across the Archive Sector, especially in the Black Country.”

National Paralympic Heritage Trust – £45,230

The National Paralympic Heritage Trust (NPHT) will work in partnership with Buckinghamshire Archives to deliver its cataloguing project ‘The Jean Stone Collection – celebrating influential women in the Paralympic Movement’. Jean Stone MBE was an early pioneer of the global Paralympic Movement who dedicated her life to inclusive sport and helped shape the Paralympics as we know it today.

NPHT’s engagement plans include establishing a community curation group of young disabled women to help interpret and connect national audiences with the collection and celebrate women’s achievements in Paralympic history more widely.

NPHT, founded 10 years ago this year, is dedicated to uncovering, preserving and sharing Paralympic heritage and celebrating their national status as ‘birthplace of the Paralympics’.

Vicky Hope-Walker, CEO, National Paralympic Heritage Trust, said “We are thrilled to be awarded Archives Revealed funding for the first time to support our vital work uncovering and making national Paralympic collections accessible to all. The grant will allow us to document, recognise and celebrate the unique contribution of the late Jean Stone MBE, a true pioneer of the Paralympic Movement. With a career spanning 60-years, Jean had a direct impact on the lives of so many athletes nationally and internationally”.

Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust (Brighton and Hove Museums) – £50,000

Brighton and Hove Museums (B&HM) is a leading regional museum service, with five museums, including the internationally renowned Royal Pavilion and Garden. ‘Unlocking the Royal Pavilion Archives’ will catalogue the disparate records of their internationally significant collection, radically improving its accessibility and searchability, and protecting its stories for future generations. This project will have a transformational impact on the local community, visitors, volunteers, researchers and on the Royal Pavilion itself by enabling more engagement with both existing audiences and new, more diverse audiences through a series of targeted in-person and online events.
Developed over a 200-year period, the Royal Pavilion is unique in its diversity and content, providing an incredibly well-recorded history of a Royal Palace. Starting as a royal residence, the Pavilion went into municipal ownership in 1850 and has a rich history of developing into a tourist destination and a focus for civic activities.
Hedley Swain, CEO B&HM, said: “The Royal Pavilion archives are hugely important – telling the story of how this unique building was created. We are thrilled and grateful to have secured an Archives Revealed grant to catalogue the archive and vastly improve its accessibility to researchers and public.”

Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Museum Service – £39,620

Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Museum Service will soon begin work on ‘Exploring the Shirt Factory Archives’. This new project will focus on cataloguing a significant collection that includes photographs, ledgers and correspondence from some of the city’s factories. The collection captures over 150 years of rich textile heritage and showcases the people, mainly women, who contributed to the creation of the prosperous industrial city of Derry ~ Londonderry. The collection has inspired public sculpture, dance and theatre, murals and merchandise.

This project will facilitate the uncovering of more of the factory workers’ personal stories and memories. As the only local authority archive service in Northern Ireland, Derry City and Strabane District Council are in a unique position to build on their existing expertise and lead the way in archive development. This archive will be an integral element in the new Derry ~ Londonderry on the North Atlantic (DNA) Museum which is due to open in the city in Autumn 2026.

Bernadette Walsh, Archivist, said: “This project is particularly timely as cataloguing the collection and developing a programme of engagement will help to bring the stories of the former factory workers to life. This project will also recognise the significant contribution made by the textile industry, both economically and socially, and will have a positive cultural and emotional impact on the former factory workers and their families.”

City of Edinburgh Council – £50,000

The City of Edinburgh Council is a Scottish Local Authority providing a range of public services to Scotland’s capital, including overseeing its transport network. They will use the Archives Revealed grant to support ‘The Last Stop, Newhaven: Cataloguing the Digital Legacy of Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Ltd and the Edinburgh Trams (2002-2011)’ – or ‘Last Stop’ for short. This project will preserve and provide access to the core digital archives of the organisation that the city council established in 2002 to develop regional transport. Its most high-profile and controversial project was the returning of trams to the city after a 50-year hiatus. It was shuttered in 2011 before works were completed due to significant delays and escalating costs.
Last Stop will grapple with the preservation and access issues of a large digital archive using the skills and technology that the city council has developed, with support from the Business Archives Council for Scotland, the Digital Preservation Coalition and Glasgow University’s School of Business History. It will produce finding aids and access processes for future research, as well as workshops to share the lessons learned.
Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “Preserving and enhancing our historical collections for future generations is important not only for academic purposes but for democratic accessibility and accountability. The digital collection related to Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Ltd marks a key period in the history of urban transport not just for our city but for Scotland. It’s right and proper that this collection should be consolidated and made fully accessible. This is a truly ground breaking project and I look forward to seeing the results once this work is completed.”

University of Nottingham Manuscripts and Special Collections – £50,000

University of Nottingham Manuscripts and Special Collections (MSC) will be launching a project called ‘Spotlight on Community Youth Theatre’. Building upon their strength in theatre archives, MSC will be cataloguing the archives of two small, community-focussed companies – the Nottingham Youth Theatre, 1987-2020 and Footprints Theatre Trust, 1978-2018. Based in the East Midlands, these collections document the creative outputs of young people including those with disabilities. They demonstrate the importance of theatre in education and of inclusivity, with productions highlighting evolving social issues and changes in regional theatre practices.
Nicola Wood, Senior Collections Manager, said: “We are excited to open up and explore these fantastic collections, engaging with audiences through a program of workshops, classes and physical and digital exhibitions. The collections provide a unique point of comparison to the commercial theatre collections more commonly seen in archives, they address an underrepresented collecting area, and they will encourage the collection of further archives which reflect the diversity of local voices and experiences.”

Rotherham Archives and Local Studies – £42,406

The ‘Boroughing In: Cataloguing Place and Identity in Rotherham’ project will celebrate Rotherham’s people, stories, and spaces. The project will catalogue Rotherham Archives’ local authority records spanning 1792 to the present, uncovering the region’s evolving identity and fostering a deeper understanding of place and community.

As Rotherham prepares to become the world’s first Children’s Capital of Culture in 2025, this initiative will ensure the archives play a vital role in documenting and participating in the borough’s transformation. By identifying gaps and broadening representation in the collections, the project not only preserves history but also empowers communities to tell their stories, ensuring Rotherham’s heritage remains dynamic, inclusive, and relevant for generations to come. Engaging creatively with these records will inspire diverse audiences to explore Rotherham’s unique history and actively shape its future.

Caitlin Clearwater, Archivist at Rotherham Archives, said: “Now is the time to reveal what’s previously been overlooked, and to become more proactive in reflecting Rotherham’s many identities.”

Peak District Foundation – £45,000

In partnership with the Peak District National Park Authority and Derby Record Office, The Peak District National Park Foundation (PDNPF) will catalogue, and open up to the public, its image archive of the Peak District National Park Authority, featuring over 40,000 images spanning the 20th century. This ambitious project has been named ‘Landscapes Unlocked’.
The Peak District is the UK’s first national park, founded in 1951. PDNPF is a charity established to make the park a thriving place for nature and people. The archive tells the story of the park and the people within it, from its establishment to the present day. It is a rich and varied collection, which speaks to the interplay between people and nature over time. This would be the first publicly accessible collection from a UK national park.
Roisin Joyce, Director, Peak District National Park Foundation, said: “We are delighted that the story of the Peak District National Park will be opened up to the public with support from an Archives Revealed grant. This collection tells us about the changes to people and nature in our national parks, giving us an insight into wide-ranging themes including rural customs, farming practices, industry, archaeology and tourism. Importantly, this image collection also has huge potential to help us better understand landscape change, a vital research area in the face of climate change. We look forward to opening up the collection and drawing out stories to share with communities inside and beyond the boundaries of the park.”

The Poetry Archive – £39,620

With support from Archives Revealed, The Poetry Archive will catalogue and describe all their collections and holdings in one place for the first time. The catalogue they produce will enable all visitors to their site to see the recordings they have and the copyright status they hold. It will also show the public how they can engage more clearly and easily with their collections. This project will focus on the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival containing over 800 hours of poetry talks, readings, workshops and discussions from the original, sadly closed, festival. The aim will be to provide the storage template which The Poetry Archive will employ across their entire holdings.
The Poetry Archive is the only charity in the world wholly dedicated to producing and preserving recordings of poets reading their own work aloud. There are profound benefits to hearing poetry which include improved educational enjoyment and outcomes, improved well-being and a greater understanding of human emotions and oracy.
Dr Tracey Guiry, Poetry Archive Directoro, said: “This project will enable us to professionalise our standards of care and management of the archive, reaching for accreditation as our poetry collections grow and the archive becomes more complex. It is a fantastic opportunity for us to release details of the treasures we have in the archive which are currently hidden in our stores.”

The Linen Hall, Belfast – £39,432

We shall overcome: unlocking civil rights archives at The Linen Hall’ will sort, catalogue and make accessible the archive of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, its Chairperson P.J. McClean, and ephemera collected contemporaneously over decades.
The archive material reflects a momentous period of history and encompasses significant societal issues such as elections, housing, employment, justice, and the ground-breaking movement for social change and trailblazing grassroots activism. A programme of engagement, workshops, tours and talks will bring the archive to life, encouraging reflection, discussion and debate.
Founded in 1788, The Linen Hall is an archive, accredited museum and the oldest Library in Belfast. The political collection began in 1968 with one civil rights leaflet, and today contains some 350K items, encompassing all shades of opinion, and containing material from all perspectives.
Samantha McCombe, Librarian, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this funding to shine a light on the rare and unique archives documenting the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland, especially as we move through significant anniversaries. Unlocking these materials and making them accessible through engagement will spotlight our archives as being by and for the community, so we are very grateful to all the funders.”