BAC Cataloguing Grant for Business Archives related to the Arts (2013-2018)

Between 2013-2018 the BAC ran a cataloguing grant specifically for business archives related to the Arts. In 2019 the BAC felt it was time to change the scope of this particular grant in order to support a different business archives sector. See our BAC Cataloguing Grant for Business Archives related to Sport for more details. The sports sector was chosen because it had become apparent that many sports business organisations and groups were underfunded and consequently the heritage collections they hold are at risk.

The winner of the 2018 Arts Grant was Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts) for the cataloguing of its institutional archive collection.

Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts) is an evolving, radical visual arts organisation dedicated to developing an artistic programme that reflects on the social and political impact of globalisation. Iniva was established with significant investment by Arts Council England in 1994, in response to years of campaigning for better representation of Black and Asian artists in British arts institutions. Considered a pioneering organisation, one of its principal aims is to build a greater body of knowledge around each of the artists with whom they work to ensure the legacy of their practices for future generations of researchers and audiences. Working in partnership with other organisations for over two decades, Iniva has commissioned new artworks, curated exhibitions internationally, published exhibition catalogues and monographs, and run an education programme.

As Iniva prepares to establish a dedicated archive space, as part of the Stuart Hall Library, it is a timely moment to catalogue its collection and make it available to the public. The archive collection comprises artist, exhibition and publication files as well as foundation documents, mission, strategy and policy records.

The catalogued collection will become a resource to inspire creativity for the next generation of artists and curators. It will be used for academic research, taking advantage of existing demand and established links with various academic institutions, as well as a postdoctoral research partnership. There will be tie-ins with Iniva’s 25th anniversary in 2019 – one planned project will trace the narrative of race and identity against a changing socio-political backdrop.

Iniva’s application demonstrated the significance and importance of the collection and existing research interest as well as potential for development. Extra activities and schemes planned as a result of the cataloguing were outlined and a clear and realistic project plan was included.

Melanie Keen, Director of Iniva says ‘It is great to be recognised by the Business Archives Council for the decades-long work that has been achieved at Iniva through successive generations of artists, writers, scholars and curators. This grant will allow us to realise a deeply-held ambition to cement our reputation as a world-class research centre with a specialist art collection – the Stuart Hall Library – at our heart. Cataloguing the archive will enable us to access other forms of support that will ensure achievement of our future plans, for that I and Iniva’s trustees are very grateful."

Read the full report here.

Any questions about the Arts Grant 2013-2018 should be addressed to Anne Archer, Business Archives Council, anne.archer@bt.com

Find out about past winners:

2017 - Falmouth University - The Kneehigh Theatre Archive

2016 - Special Collections, Leeds University Library & Red Ladder Theatre Company

2015 - The National Gallery

2014 - Spike Island Artspace Ltd./Bristol Record Office (joint bid)

2013 - IRIE! Dance Theatre and Pentabus (two winners)