From the Sector

Here you will find links to useful guidance and information produced by organisations across the heritage sector in response to the current COVID-19 lockdown, as well as details of some of the funding and financial support available for those affected by the pandemic.

The (UK) National Archives: TNA’s newly published re-opening check list and risk management framework, along with revised principles and details of TNA operational planning:
 

TNA Coronavirus update: Information from TNA on Archive Service Accreditation, Archives Revealed funding, maintaining the safety and security of collections and places of deposit. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sector/our-archives-sector-role/coronavirus-update

  

ICOM and UNESCO’s COVID-19 reports findings for museums and museum professionals

To gather information on how the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak is affecting and will affect the cultural sector in the short and long term, ICOM launched a global survey to analyse the impact of lockdowns. The survey covered five themes: the current situation for museums and staff, predicted economic impact, digital and communication, museum security and conservation of collections, freelancer museum professionals. The report has analysed almost 1,600 responses from museums and museum professionals, in 107 countries and across continents, which were collected between 7 April and 7 May 2020.

In parallel, UNESCO Report ‘Museums Around the World in the Face of COVID-19’ (May 2020) contains the results of UNESCO’s world-wide survey conducted on the impact of COVID-19 on museums. The report provides new insights into the numbers and key trends of museums around the world, the measures museums have taken in response to the pandemic and actions proposed for the aftermath of the crisis. The report underscores the resilience of museums, as well as the challenges they face in their efforts to continue to promote access to culture.

Read the full ICOM report on the ICOM website.

Read the full UNESCO report on the UNESCO website.

 
ICON Conservation and care of collections during the coronavirus pandemic: Guidance produced by the UK Heads of Conservation Group for museums and other organisations trying to care for collections during the coronavirus lockdown.
 
ICO Data protection and coronavirus information hub: Regularly updated advice and guidance.
 
Dealing with FOI enquiries during the coronavirus crisis: guidance from the FOIMan blog.
 
Scottish Natural Heritage
 
Historic Environment Scotland
 
Historic England
 
CADW: the Welsh Government's historic environment service
 
Arts Council England’s Emergency Funding Package
Details of the Arts Council’s emergency funding for National Portfolio Organisations, organisations outside the National Portfolio, and individuals. There is also information for organisations that are currently in receipt of funding from the Arts Council and details of further support available from government and non-government sources.
www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19
 
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
The latest guidance for the arts sector in Northern Ireland on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
 
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Details of the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Emergency Fund, providing short-term funding for organisations delivering heritage projects or running previously funded projects, and safeguarding heritage sites that the National Lottery Heritage Fund has previously invested in.
 
The Heritage Council of Ireland
 
Canadian Conservation Institute: Caring for Heritage Collections during the COVID-19 Pandemic
 
Canadian Association for the Protection of Cultural Property: Detailed guidance on caring for heritage collections during the COVID-19 pandemic, including specific advice against using disinfectants when cleaning collections.
 
Museum Freelance Network - dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak as a freelancer: Emergency resources for freelancers.
 
Arts Council England Guidance: Closed venues and sites – advice on meeting security and environmental conditions for GIS and general collections purposes.
 
Taylor & Francis (ARA Journal publishers): COVID-19: free-to-access novel coronavirus content. This new microsite provides links and references to all relevant COVID-19 research articles, book chapters and information in support of the global efforts in diagnosis, treatment, prevention and further research into COVID-19.
 
Europeana - supporting galleries, libraries, archives, and museums: Supporting cultural heritage professionals in advice for the time of COVID-19.
 
The Digital Repository of Ireland - COVID-19: Playing our Part: The Digital Repository of Ireland has identified several key areas for support.
 
The Oral History Society: The society gives advice on the practicalities and ethics of remote interviewing, as well as some technical guidance.
 
Mass Observation Archive: advice and guidance from the Mass Observation Archive for community archives who might wish to collect material on their own community’s experience and diaries of the pandemic. They could either participate in or take example/guidance from this project.
 
The Society of American Archivists: a resource kit and guidance on documenting in times of crisis.
www2.rchivists.org/advocacy/documenting-in-times-of-crisis-a-resource-kit

Historic England: guidance from Historic England on how to clean historic surfaces

https://historicengland.org.uk/coronavirus/historic-places/cleaning-historic-surfaces/

An article about how to treat books during COVID-19: http://blog.bne.es/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/How-to-act-with-books-in-the-face-of-the-risk-of-COVID-19.pdf

The Institute of Museum and Library Services: Details of a COVID-19 Research Partnership to inform safe handling of collections, reopening practices for libraries, Museums: https://www.imls.gov/news/covid-19-research-partnership-inform-safe-handling-collections-reopening-practices-libraries
 
Explore your Archive: useful toolkits including guidance on using social media to promote archives and records: https://www.exploreyourarchive.org
 
Naomi Korn Associates: useful copyright and data protection resources, including one on social media, from Naomi Korn Associates who specialise in copyright, data protection and licensing. www.naomikorn.com/resources
 
Reopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM): Sign up for updates from a US-based project, Reopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM), which is testing how long the Coronavirus remains active on collection material: https://www.webjunction.org/explore-topics/COVID-19-research-project.html

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA): This IFLA document summarises different responses internationally to the question of how long to quarantine books. See the section on 'Handling Materials'. For example, in France it's 72 hours for paper but 10 days for plastic-coated materials. https://www.ifla.org/covid-19-and-libraries#handling

Library of Congress: The findings of a research project on the impact of hand sanitisers on collection materials. https://www.loc.gov/preservation/scientists/projects/sanitize.html

International Council On Archives: A statement from the International Council on Archives entitled ‘COVID-19: The duty to document does not cease in a crisis, it becomes more essential.’  https://www.ica.org/en/covid-19-the-duty-to-document-does-not-cease-in-a-crisis-it-becomes-more-essential

British Standards Institution (BSI): Building on formal guidance issued by UK Government, BSI has developed a new Safe Working Guidance set of guidelines to assist organisations as they adjust the way they work, and protect workers and other people in their workplace from the ongoing risks related to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.  This document will be revised frequently to reflect the dynamic situation, considering comments from users, government guidance, the level of risk and emerging knowledge. https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/topics/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-guidelines/?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SM-STAN-PRM-COVID19%2FGuidelines-2005

Conference 2021