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 is running a webinar on 21st  August about re-opening archives inclusively. The webinar will run through various scenarios that will ask participants to think inclusively about re-opening policies. The scenarios will cover a range of issues in relation to the nine protected characteristics of The Equality Act 2010. The group will then look at how these scenarios can be managed to best benefit those concerned. We will also share the results of our recent inclusive re-opening survey, which asked archive users and employees for their concerns about re-opening.

This webinar is primarily aimed at those who are responsible for the re-opening of an archive service or who will be interacting with users once services re-open. Book your place on the webinar here.

The (UK) National Archives (TNA) has released a series of advocacy resources to convey the value of digital archives and the need to act now to preserve them. The new resources are part of TNA’s Plugged In Powered Up digital capacity building strategy.

The first resource is a short video which introduces the digital challenge and explains how TNA is here to help. It highlights the impact that small steps can make and the importance of developing digital preservation, access and engagement skills.

TNA’s leaflet for decision makers complements the video and explains why organisations must invest in the digital management of archives. It also warns of the risks of failing to preserve digital assets.

A second leaflet is for archive professionals themselves and lists the ways in which TNA can support archive professionals with advice and free skills training. 

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has released information on the new ‘Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage’. The fund, which includes grants from £10,000 to £3million, will support organisations across the heritage ecosystem in England and will be distributed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England. You can find details on how to apply here.

Please note the narrow window for applying for heritage grants. Applications will be accepted from Thursday 30th July until noon on 17th August 2020.

Arts Council England are administering a separate portion of the DCMS funding to arts and cultural organisations (both non-profit and for-profit) based in England. More details can be found here.

The British Film Institute are also administering the Culture Recovery Fund for Independent Cinemas in England, on behalf of the UK Government. Details can be found here. 

The (UK) National Archives: The results of TNA’s Coronavirus impact survey/webinar results can be found here:
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sector/our-archives-sector-role/coronavirus-update/our-coronavirus-response-and-guidance/collaborating-with-the-ara/

The (UK) National Archives: TNA updated useful resources webpage can be found here:

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sector/our-archives-sector-role/coronavirus-update/other-useful-resources/

The (UK) National Archives: TNA’s updated checklist for re-opening can be found here:
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sector/our-archives-sector-role/coronavirus-update/making-plans-for-re-opening/

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.
 
The following 'Covid-19 Resources Roundup' spreadsheet has been compiled to help small and medium sized institutions access the most useful advice and assist the response to lockdown and reopening.  Covid19 Resources Roundup V8 compiled by Victoria Stevens ACR
 
Dealing with FOI enquiries during the coronavirus crisis: guidance from the FOIMan blog.
 
Scottish Natural Heritage
 
Historic Environment Scotland
 
Historic England
 

SSE Enterprise: Guidance from SSE Enterprise on the ways in which building services can be used to reduce the spread of COVID-19, with a particular focus on ventilation and air conditioning.

https://sseenergyoptimisation.co.uk/stay-safe-with-sse-how-to-use-building-services-to-help-prevent-the-spread-of-covid-19/

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.
 
The Yale University COVID-19 Contingency Planning Public Health Committee has reviewed the most recent research into how long the SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes the disease, COVID-19) is active on surfaces for a certain amount of time and has concluded that the virus is no longer infectious on surfaces after 36 hours. It should also be noted that the likelihood of getting infected with the virus from an object or surface is low in a non-healthcare facility setting when practicing good personal hygiene. Click here for further information (link to PDF).
 
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