January 2005
Frank Gray of the Film Archive Forum made a presentation at the last Council meeting on audio visual archives. This raised issues including the difficulty of sustaining services without recurrent funding. The UK Film Council (UKFC) currently provides funding to the eight existing regional audio visual archives in England through its network of Regional Screen Agencies (RSAs). It is this funding that forms the core foundation from which the archives attract additional funding of £6 for each £1 provided by the RSAs. The UKFC has established a Film Heritage group whose terms of reference relate to sustainability. This group is making slow progress despite the efforts of FAF and NCA. Accordingly, NCA has written to Tessa Jowell to raise the issues above the level of that group. We await a formal response although meetings have take place between MLA and DCMS and internally at DCMS. It was agreed that NCA and FAF would continue to work closely on lobbying issues.
MLA's archive development programme has been published and will inform the next funding cycle both centrally and in the regions. The Archives Forum, proposed in the ATF report, will not now be established. IDAC will take on the lead role in implementing the recommendations of ATF. MLA is undergoing a five-year review which will consider the future structure and role of MLA.
Nick Kingsley will stand down as NCA chairman in April, six months earlier than planned, in view of his appointment as head of the National Advisory Services and Secretary of HMC at TNA. Subject to the endorsement of the Council at its April meeting, he will be succeeded as Chairman by Liz Hallam Smith and a new Vice-Chairman will be recruited. Margaret Turner will come to the end of her term of office as Secretary in October 2005 and a successor is being sought.
Katie Norgrove has given notice as Policy and Development Officer and will be leaving in March. Her post will be advertised shortly. NCA expresses its great debt to Katie for her work and its great regret at her departure. Council was pleased to welcome the appointment of Louise Ray as NCA Archive Lottery Adviser on a contract to March 2006.
Giving Value, a successor to British Archives which outlined funding priorities for the domain over the period 1999-2004, is nearing completion. Giving Value proposes five key priority areas for funders over the next five years: online access, new audiences, sustainable development, interpretation, and excellence and innovation. Once a final version is ready the document will be launched and circulated widely within the profession and to grant awarding bodies. Additional documents will be published, including a Guide to Giving Value for archivists and briefings for different funders. The drafts have been welcomed by NCA and approved, with a few additions. The final draft will be circulated to the member organisations of NCA for endorsement.
The Archive Awareness Campaign 2004 impact assessment and review will be available in February 2005. The link with the BBC programme Who do you think you are? was very successful. Planning is underway for the 2005 and 2006 campaigns, which will feature some time-specific activities, plus a continuing, all year round campaign. Lucy Fulton at TNA is continuing work on AAC. A supporters meeting will be held in April to generate ideas and a plan for the next phase.
