British Library Research Grants

The Endangered Archives Program offers grants to locate vulnerable archival collections, to arrange their transfer wherever possible to a suitable local archival home, and to deliver copies into the international research domain via the British Library. The specific focus of this Program is on archives relating to the pre-industrial stages of a society's development in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, or Europe.

The following types of grant are currently available:

• Pilot projects can involve investigating the potential for a major project through a survey, or they may be small digitisation projects. Maximum duration: 12 months. Budget limit: £15,000.

• Major projects are intended for digitisation and cataloguing of a collection or collections. This type of grant may involve preservation necessary for digitisation, and may also relocate the material to a more secure location/institution within the country. Typical duration: 12 months, max: 24 months. Budget limit: £60,000.

• Area projects are similar to major projects, but larger in scale and ambition. Applicants must demonstrate a track record of successful archival preservation work and be associated with an institution that has the capacity to facilitate a large-scale project. We will award a maximum of two area grants in each funding round. Potential applicants must contact the EAP office before submitting an application for an area grant. Maximum duration: 24 months. Budget limit: £150,000.

Research Authority due date: 6.11.23
​Pre application (required) due date: 13.11.23
Full application due date: 12.2.24