Celebrating 20 Years of EAP: Highlights from the 2024 Conference
On 31 October and 1 November 2024, the Endangered Archives Programme and the British Library’s International Office hosted the conference Timeless Archives, Timely Connections: Preserving Endangered Documentary Heritage and Inspiring Collaboration. This milestone event marked 20 years of EAP’s achievements in safeguarding documentary heritage and fostering global collaboration.
Love writing: Why do we write when in love? — Hisham Matar
Speakers Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún, Jane Winters, and Hisham Matar led thought-provoking discussions that brought together archivists, cultural heritage professionals and researchers from around the world. The first day started with an “EAP project in focus” session, which was given by Henny Ziai and Kholood Khair who discussed the importance of the Abdallah Bey Hamza collection, a Sudanese trader’s archive. The subsequent sessions tackled critical themes such as funding opportunities, the impact of climate change, conflict and hidden costs of digitisation. Conference posters further highlighted inspiring case studies in preservation and skills exchange.
EAP project in focus: The Abdallah Bey Hamza collection (a Sudanese trader’s archive) — Kholood Khair (R), Henny Ziai (L)
For those unable to attend, recordings from the conference are now available via the British Library's digital repository. The British Library Research Repository is an open access repository for research produced by staff and research associates. All presentations are listed on the "Timeless Archives, Timely Connections: Preserving Endangered Documentary Heritage and Inspiring Collaboration" page and users can view materials in the browser by clicking 'View Files in Viewer' at the top of the page or download them directly via the 'Actions' column.
Climate crisis and the growing threat to archives — Stephanie Grant (L), Wanjiru Koinange (C), Andrea Richards (on screen) and Helen Vincent (R)
Protecting culture during conflict — Dagnija Baltiņa (R), Rachel Deblinger (L), Hana Sleiman (on screen) and Peter Stone (C)
Hidden costs of digitisation: What you need to know — Michael Ballbach (CR), Tom Holland (L), Fu’ad Lawal (on screen), Christopher Ohge (R) and Maureen Pennock (CL)
We hope you will enjoy listening to the conference recordings; they are just as good as having been there in person!
Below is the full programme for the two days with the individual links to each recording. For more details of the sessions and the biographies of the speakers please clink on this link.
Welcome, Day 1 — Robin Janvrin
Oratures, technology, and the intangible heritage of memory — Kọĺá Túbọs̀ún
Introduction to EAP — Sam van Schaik
EAP project in focus: The Abdallah Bey Hamza collection (a Sudanese trader’s archive) — Kholood Khair, Hengameh (Henny) Ziai
Who gets the funding? Reflecting on 20 years of EAP’s International Advisory Panel — Anthea Case (Chair), Simon Franklin, Mulaika Hijjas, Rajeev Kinra, Caterina Pizzigoni
Understanding the differences among funding and strategic approaches — Gala-Alexa Amagat, Marianne Deraze, Ruth Hansford, Marcie Hopkins (Chair) and Dian Kuswandini
International skills exchange: Lessons learnt and what’s next — Tamara Alattiya, Romana Delaporte, Buhle Mbambo-Thata (Chair) and Nikolas Sarris
Closing remarks, Day 1 — Arthur Dudney
1 November
Welcome, Day 2 — Tom Holland
Love writing: Why do we write when in love? — Hisham Matar
Climate crisis and the growing threat to archives — Stephanie Grant, Wanjiru Koinange, Andrea Richards and Helen Vincent (Chair)
Attempted takeover of the Khalidi Library — Raja Khalidi
Protecting culture during conflict — Dagnija Baltiņa, Rachel Deblinger (Chair), Nadiya Khalak, Hana Sleiman and Peter Stone
Preserving documentary heritage to reconstruct life histories of enslaved people — Remi Graves, Bonnie Greer (Chair), Albert Moore and Suzanne Schwarz
Hidden costs of digitisation: What you need to know — Michael Ballbach, Tom Holland (Chair), Fu’ad Lawal, Christopher Ohge and Maureen Pennock
Closing remarks, Day 2 — Marcie Hopkins
Chatting during a break Nikolas Sarris (L), Marcie Hopkins (C) and Tamara Alattiya (R)