The Endangered Material Knowledge Programme (EMKP) has announced its 2025/2026 application cycle for the Legacy Digitisation Grant, an initiative dedicated to preserving and safeguarding valuable documentation of material knowledge. This grant seeks to support projects that ensure at-risk cultural, craft, and community-based knowledge is digitally preserved and made accessible for future generations. Applications for this funding opportunity will be accepted from 22 October 2025 until 19 January 2026 (12:00 GMT), and applicants are encouraged to submit early to allow sufficient time for review and preparation.
Purpose and Scope
The Legacy Digitisation Grant is designed to protect “legacy” materials, which are records and documentation from completed projects that might otherwise be lost due to deterioration, outdated storage formats, or lack of digital accessibility. These materials are essential for preserving historical, cultural, and technical knowledge, including community practices, artisanal techniques, and traditional craftsmanship.
Eligible materials for this grant include field notes, journals, photographs, slides, negatives, audio and video recordings, sketches, diagrams, project reports, and related documentation. In some cases, objects or artifacts that are accompanied by historical records may also be considered. By digitising these materials, EMKP aims to support long-term preservation, facilitate scholarly research, and provide public access to knowledge that might otherwise remain inaccessible or forgotten.
Grant Details and Funding
The Legacy Digitisation Grant provides support for projects lasting up to one year, with a maximum award of £20,000. Funding can be applied toward digitisation equipment, specialized services, technical support, metadata creation, staff salaries, training, and other necessary expenses that ensure high-quality, secure, and effective digitisation. Projects may only commence after all administrative agreements, including detailed budgets, digital management plans, and ethical review documentation, have been finalized with EMKP.
Successful applications will demonstrate a clear strategy for digitising and preserving legacy materials, including consideration of long-term storage, accessibility, and adherence to ethical standards. The grant emphasizes the importance of careful planning, technical expertise, and community engagement to guarantee that the preserved materials remain valuable and usable over time.
Who Can Apply
The Legacy Digitisation Grant is open to applicants globally, with no restrictions on nationality. Eligible applicants include individuals affiliated with recognized institutions, museums, libraries, archives, cultural centers, community organizations, or other groups responsible for preserving legacy documentation. Original creators or custodians of materials are also encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate both cultural significance and practical strategies for long-term preservation.
Applicants are advised to carefully review the application guidelines, particularly with regard to eligibility, ethical considerations, budget justification, and submission procedures. Projects should include letters of support or endorsement from partner institutions when applicable, demonstrating institutional commitment to the preservation and accessibility of the materials.
Application Requirements
A complete application must contain a clear project summary and description, detailing the significance of the legacy materials and the methods to be used for digitisation. Applicants must provide information on technical approaches, ethical considerations, data management plans, and project budgets with detailed justification. Evidence of institutional support, including letters or documentation from collaborating organizations, should also be included to strengthen the application.
Selected applicants are required to finalize the Grant Agreement within six months of award notification. Any delays in completing administrative or contractual obligations may result in withdrawal of funding, so applicants are encouraged to begin preliminary discussions with relevant institutions early in the application process.
Importance of the Grant
The EMKP Legacy Digitisation Grant plays a vital role in protecting intangible and tangible cultural heritage worldwide. By supporting the digitisation of legacy materials, EMKP ensures that knowledge systems related to traditional crafts, community practices, and material culture are preserved and accessible to researchers, communities, and future generations. This initiative promotes the long-term sustainability of cultural knowledge and fosters understanding, appreciation, and dissemination of heritage that might otherwise be at risk of disappearing.
Through this Legacy Digitisation Grant, EMKP reinforces its commitment to global knowledge preservation, ensuring that endangered material knowledge is not only safeguarded but also made widely accessible for research, education, and cultural engagement.
