Get funding for your next digitisation project

Welcome to the home of the TownsWeb Archiving Digitisation Grant. Our grant has attracted many applicants in the seven years it has been running, benefiting over 120 organisations and awarding almost £150,000. Last year alone 22 separate projects were successfully funded in total with over £30,000 awarded in digitisation funding. Our grant has supported the digitisation of a long and eclectic list of valuable and rare heritage collections. Read on to find out how to make your own application.

What is the TWA Digitisation Grant?

Stemming from a conversation around the impact of funding on the heritage sector, the grant has adapted and evolved over the years, responding directly to the real and current needs of the heritage organisations it seeks to support.

The TWA Digitisation Grant has run annually and without fail (save for a short hiatus as a result of COVID-19) for seven successful years. As well as a number of main grants, assessed by our panel of judges, there is also the opportunity to secure match funding.

7 years

and counting

900

applicants

120+

organisations supported

£150K

funding awarded

Quick Links

Find out more about the grant, download your form and start applying for funding.

Funding Details

Find out what awards are available, what criteria you will need to meet, as well as the all-important opening and closing dates.

Learn More

Apply For Funding

Simply provide your details to download our online application form and make a start on your funding application today.

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Some of the amazing organisations we’ve supported

Listen to some of their stories View some of their projects

Frequently Asked Questions

Funding covers a vast array of material types that fall within three main categories: bound volume collections, archive collections, and photograph collections. Each of these categories contains a list of more specific material types. Part of the grant may also be used for the transcription of metadata and OCR (optical character recognition) data capture.

Click below to find out whether your particular material type is covered:
www.townswebarchiving.com/digitisation-funding-grant/funding-details#funding-covers.

Any organisation based in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Island of Jersey, the Island of Guernsey, the Island of Alderney can apply as long as you are working on behalf of public, private and charity archives, business/corporate archives, public and private libraries, museums or galleries. You can even apply if your institution or organisation has applied in the past.

We do not accept applications from private individuals with personal collections or digitisation/scanning bureaus.

For clarification, click below:
www.townswebarchiving.com/digitisation-funding-grant/funding-details#who-can-apply.

To apply, simply submit the short form on the page linked below. You will then be sent an email providing access to your online application form. You can save and return to your application at any time:
www.townswebarchiving.com/digitisation-funding-grant/apply-for-digitisation-funding.

Applications are selected by a panel of three judges with a vast array of experience in the cultural heritage sector. Each application will be assessed across four primary areas: Heritage need, Social/Community impact, Research value, and Improved accessibility. Further information about these primary areas can be found within the application form itself.

You can find out more about our judging panel here:
www.townswebarchiving.com/digitisation-funding-grant/funding-details#judging-panel

Yes, that’s absolutely right!

For the second year running we have created a match funding pot into which £500 will be deposited for each eligible application received. From this pot, all eligible applicants will be able to claim up to £1,000, which they will match through additional funds. But this pot is very popular, so don’t delay in starting your project and claiming your match funding. When it’s gone, it’s gone!

TownsWeb Archiving have been expertly scanning and indexing cultural heritage archives for more than two decades. Over the years, we have seen how funding cuts have squeezed the sector, directly impacting collection holders. Our mission is to see archives safeguarded against damage and loss, opening up opportunities for access, discovery, and revenue generation.

To find out more about TownsWeb Archiving, including our mission, vision, values and our team of expert digitisation technicians, click here:www.townswebarchiving.com/about-us

For any further questions, please contact us: [email protected].