Living Archive Project – Camden Arts Centre

  • Background

Camden Arts Centre is an internationally renowned contemporary art venue with an ambitious programme characterised by discovery and risk-taking. We excel in projects that empower and engage communities, inspire children and young people and deliver a critically acclaimed combination of exhibitions, artists’ projects and education activities. Alongside this we actively engage with volunteers, offering a unique opportunity to gain experience within individual parts of the organisation and gain an insight into the running of the Centre.

  • Our project

In 2015 Camden Arts Centre celebrates its 50th birthday, as part of this anniversary year we will be delivering an exciting archive project over the next 6 months. Taking our archive of exhibitions materials as its focus, our Living Archive Projectwill work with volunteers to help improve its care and management, to digitise its contents and make them accessible to more people through an online archive microsite.

We are now looking for volunteers to take part in the project and work with us in making parts of our archive accessible to new audiences and help us deliver a lasting legacy for our archive.

We will prioritise working with newvolunteers from the local community.

  • What will the project involve?

Potential tasks could include:

  • Research (including off-site visits)
  • Digitisation and scanning
  • Conducting interviews and transcriptions
  • Selecting material for public display
  • General administration and collections care tasks
  • Delivering short talks to the public
  • What will you gain?

Volunteerswill gain experience working with archival material and an introduction to basic collections care management. In addition to this, volunteers will be able to improve IT and work-related skills, as well as skills specific to the visual arts. Participants will be given the opportunity to be involved with an exciting, risk-taking arts venue and the chance to work in a team amongst engaging, committed and creative individuals.

  • Commitment

The Living Archive Project will last 6 months, from October 2015 – April 2016. We are looking for volunteers to take part around once a week for either half a day or a full day during the times below on a sign-up basis:

Mondays: 10.30 – 5.30pm

Thursdays: 1.30 – 5.30pm

Saturdays: 10.30 – 5.30pm

The Project Organiser will coordinate directly with volunteers in order to work out times and dates.

  • Additional information

Travel expenses will be reimbursed up to £5.50 per day.

Lunch expenses up to £5.00 in the Camden Arts Centre Café.

Volunteers can also gain up to 10% discount in our café, bookshop and on our acclaimed courses.

Camden Arts Centre is committed to meeting the needs of applicants with disabilities. The refurbished building is fully accessible to all; however there are access limitations to the archive. Please contact us if you wish to discuss this further.

  • To join the project

For more information please email or call Stephanie Sutton, Archive Project Organiser,020 7472 5500

To get involved please complete a volunteer registration formavailable from: return by email or post to Stephanie Sutton, , Camden Arts Centre, Arkwright Road, London, NW3 6DG.

Registration forms should be received no later than 6.00pm on Friday 6 November 2015.

Supported by The Heritage Lottery Fund, The London Community Foundation and Cockayne - Grants for the Arts.