EAP1005 Selection of Cham Manuscripts in Vietnam. Courtesy of the Endangered Archives Programme.

Recording cultural heritage

We want future generations to have knowledge of the world’s cultural diversity.

Cultures change over time. Much of the world’s cultural heritage is poorly documented and may become invisible to future generations.

Our grants support the digital documentation of cultural heritage that is poorly recorded and under threat. They create partnerships with local organizations and institutions to secure long-term preservation and free access to the records in line with the FAIR and CARE principles for data. Read more about our open access policy

We prioritize grants where there is greatest need and resources are most limited, so we are less likely to fund work in Western Europe and North America. 

We don’t have the capacity or expertise to fund emergency work in conflict zones or disaster areas.

We don’t accept applications for funding but individuals and organizations can apply to programmes that we support. 

Priorities

Archives and manuscripts

We help digitize at-risk collections of written documents, photographs, and audio and video recordings, including born-digital material

Intangible culture

We support the documentation of languages and cultural practices that may be at risk of dying out.

Heritage sites

We support the large-scale documentation of archaeological sites and buildings in regions where existing records are incomplete and the risk of future loss is high. We are no longer initiating new heritage site projects.

Grant programmes

Our grant programmes are hosted by trusted partners. They help us to determine where our support is most needed and distribute grants to individuals and organizations.

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Endangered Languages Documentation Programme

The Endangered Languages Documentation Programme gives grants to linguists and community members to document languages around the world that are at risk of falling silent. The programme makes the digital documentation of these languages freely available online.

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Endangered Archives Programme

The Endangered Archives Programme gives grants to digitize archives that are in danger of destruction, neglect or deterioration. The programme supports projects that cover rare printed sources, manuscripts, photographs, and audio recordings in all languages and scripts from all periods up to the mid-20th century. All of the digitized materials are freely available online.

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Modern Endangered Archives Program

The Modern Endangered Archives Program gives grants to digitize endangered archival materials from the 20th and 21st centuries. The programme supports projects that digitize printed materials, manuscripts, photographs, audio-visual recordings and born-digital materials from the mid-20th century onwards. All of the digitized materials are freely available online.

Marka Dafing women spinning wild silk in Burkina Faso. Photo by Laurence Douny. Courtesy of the Endangered Material Knowledge Programme.

Endangered Material Knowledge Programme

The Endangered Material Knowledge Programme gives grants to document traditional skills and practices used in making or using things. It supports projects that document practices and skills that are being lost as mass-produced objects replace handmade items. The digitized records are available for free online.

Indonesian boatbuilding, a unique and threatened practice in South-East Asian maritime culture. Courtesy of the Endangered Material Knowledge Programme.

Endangered Wooden Architecture Programme

The Endangered Wooden Architecture Programme, hosted by Oxford Brookes University, awards grants to document traditional practices of creating and maintaining wooden buildings. 

Team

Dr Arthur Dudney

Dr Arthur Dudney

Director of Culture

Dr Mike Heyworth

Dr Mike Heyworth

Consultant to Culture funding area

Top banner image: EAP1005 Selection of Cham Manuscripts in Vietnam. Courtesy of the Endangered Archives Programme.