Skills Bursaries for Archives funded in 2025
Here are the proposals that were awarded Skills Bursaries for Archives in 2025, to support record keepers in building the skills needed for the future.
British Trust for Ornithology
The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Archives looks after a wide range of ornithological material, from the data collected through BTO surveys and monitoring schemes to the personal papers of prominent ornithologists. This bursary will enable the organisation to acquire a better understanding of photographic materials and the processes by which they degrade, which is vital as they work to stabilise, and make accessible, their large collection of early twentieth century lantern slides and glass plate negatives.
We are thrilled that our archivist has been awarded a National Archives Skills Bursary. BTO is privileged to look after a wonderful and nationally important collection of early photographic material. This specialist training on photographic degradation will enable us to provide better care for this wonderful collection of bird imagery and open it up to the public.
Prof Julie Vickery, Chief Executive Officer
Lantern slide image showing a Coot and Great Crested Grebe, Emma L. Turner, 1906
University of the Arts London
The UAL Archives and Special Collections Centre (ASCC) has particular collection strengths in filmmaking, sound arts, photography and student artworks, as well as histories of printing, publishing and art education. A number of these collections are digitised or born-digital and require a series of technical workflows to make them accessible. This grant will support Assistant Archivist Erin Liu’s participation in the Postgraduate Certification (PgCert) in Applied Data Science at Birkbeck, University of London.
The PgCert provides students with a broad knowledge of computing, as well as applicable skills in programming and data analysis, using Python. In addition to improving UAL ASCC’s asset preparation and ingest workflows, Erin will develop computational knowledge and skills to better equip the Archives service to meet changing user needs.
We are grateful to The National Archives for awarding us this bursary. Erin’s particular interest is in the care and conservation of archives and collections, which is central to their ongoing access and use in the future. Her participation in this PgCert will further develop UAL’s ability to maximise the benefit of its heritage assets, not only to the academic world — which can sometimes seem exclusive — but to the wider public who will engage in creative activity in the future to enhance their lives and their own learning.
Sarah Mahurter, Manager of the ASCC
