Conservation
Information on the energy crisis for archives
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Preservation is an important archival task and management responsibility. It encompasses all measures that serve to protect archival material from damage and destruction. It is not only a historical and cultural task, but also a legal mandate for state archives as formulated in the Archives Act. In practice, preservation involves a range of measures. In addition to repair (conservation and restoration) and various reprographic measures (archival photography and digitisation), damage prevention is of crucial importance.
Funding opportunities for preservation
Federal funding (KEK)
For ten years, the Federal Ministry of Culture (BKM) has been supporting the preservation of original documents in Germany through the Coordination Office for the Preservation of Written Cultural Heritage (KEK).
The KEK's special programme funds preservation measures such as mass deacidification, dry cleaning, packaging, restoration and concept and method development (e.g. damage assessment). The KEK's budget for funding in 2021 (end of application phase: 31 January 2021) is 3.5 million euros.
For Bavarian archives, the General Directorate of the Bavarian State Archives is the central technical office for application coordination. All Bavarian archives – regardless of their sponsor – are advised on the application process, the applications are coordinated in terms of content and technical aspects, and then forwarded collectively to the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts for countersigning. The Ministry forwards the applications to the KEK. Applications for the coming year 2024 can be submitted again until the end of January 2024. In order to avoid time constraints, preparation of the application should begin no later than autumn 2023. To meet the deadlines, the General Directorate requires the applications by 11 December 2023.
KEK model project 2023 by the Bavarian State Archives for the Munich Emergency Network:
KEK model project 2021 of the Bavarian State Archives:
‘Damage prevention at your desk – preservation boxes for everyday use with archive material’
KEK press release 2021 – Projects at a glance
State funding (Culture Fund)
The Cultural Fund provides funding for cultural projects in Bavaria. Funding can also be combined with funding from the KEK, but timely and long-term planning is necessary. The application deadline for the Cultural Fund is 1 October.