October 2005
National Council on Archives
News from Council October 2005
At the Council's Annual General Meeting held on 11 October 2005 the following matters were discussed.
- The meeting elected Sara Kinsey as Secretary and Matti Watton as Treasurer. The chairman paid particular tribute to the work of Margaret Turner in her role as Secretary over the past six years.
- The draft annual review for 2004/05 and the end of year budget statement were approved. The annual review will be published in due course and made widely available. The review drew attention to the achievements of the NCA over the past year, including the successful Archives Awareness Campaign 2004 with the link to the BBC television series, Who do you think you are?, the development of strategic guidance on digital preservation which is about to be published as Your data at risk, the response to proposals to reform civil registration law, including an appearance by the Chairman, Nick Kingsley, to give evidence to the Regulatory Reform Committee, and work to ensure sustainable funding for regional film archives. In addition, the work of the Archive Lottery Adviser, Louise Ray, to advise and guide potential applicants to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the new Big Lottery Fund, continued, with grants workshops, consultation visits, and bid reviews.
- The Council discussed its strategic plan for the period 2006-2009. A broad strategy will be finalised and an action plan for the next year prepared. Six strategic priorities have been identified and work continues to refine them. They include advocacy and strategic co-ordination, marketing and publicity for archives (including the Archive Awareness Campaign), funding and fundraising (including the work of the Archive Lottery Adviser), research and development (including the work of Public Services Quality Group), supporting community archives (including through the Community Archive Development Group, newly affiliated to NCA) and support for sector-wide issues and activities. Once the strategy and action plan are complete they will be published through the website, ncaonline.org.uk.
- The Policy and Development Officer, Ruth Savage, reported on her work for digital preservation policy, regional film archives, responses to consultations and the Archive Awareness Campaign. An administrative assistant, Lucy McNulty, began working for NCA part-time in August and the appointment was much welcomed.
- Louise Ray reported on her work as Archive Lottery Adviser, including the consultation on Lottery distribution after 2009, the Big Lottery Fund and other funding schemes for archives. A major report on archive funding, aimed at key funders and stakeholders, Giving Value, will be launched in November.
- Public Services Quality Group (PSQG) is considering the performance indicators for archives that might be included in the 'Culture Block' in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment for local government. The Visitors Survey will be held in 2006, together with a pilot for an online visitors survey.
- Community Archives Development Group (CADG) is now affiliated to NCA and presented its proposed work programme which will focus on identifying the standards and guidance available, funding applications for community archives, training and education about community archives for archivists and community archives participants, the community archives strand in the ArchivesUK bid, and a proposed mapping of community archive activities.
- Member bodies reported on their activities. The Film Archives Forum has launched a National Strategy for Moving Image Archives, which it is hoped to discuss with Ministers.
For further information, contact Elizabeth Shepherd, Press and Publicity Officer for NCA <e.shepherd@ucl.ac.uk>
