The New Archival Visions (NAV) Programme promotes capacity building in archival skills, scholarly and public access to collections, as well as activation initiatives through fellowships to draw new generations and publics into critical dialogues about our emancipatory legacies.

The seed grant for the programme is funded by the Sibusiso Bengu Development Grant through the Department of Higher Education and Training. A supplementary grant from the Sol Plaatje Foundation for archival assistance and the DSI/NRF SARChI Chair in Visual History & Theory are also gratefully acknowledged.

The programme is incubated by the Centre for Humanities Research which is directed towards:

The development of policy, praxis, physical and technological infrastructures for sustainable archives management, preservation, and access aligned with internationally recognized standards and best practices

The expansion of arts and humanities teaching and scholarship based on the creative, rigorous and integrated use of primary source materials that presently remain under-utilised

The use of a specially dedicated space on campus to mainstream heritage resources through exhibits, programming, and other public engagement efforts.

Background

NAV supports the implementation of recommendations proposed in the White Paper, ‘Revitalising UWC Archives’ (2021).

This White Paper outlines how UWC can augment its research standing and reputation globally through ensuring the physical and digital preservation of existing archives, and the dynamic activation of its cultural and intellectual resources through dedicated programmes that energise teaching, promote research and create new publics. UWC is a joint custodian of several collections at the university which hold historical, activist and art materials of national and international significance.

Watch Webinar ‘Archival Futures & Research:

Preservation, Access & UWC’s Digital Infrastructure’ (20 August 2021).

This webinar presented the findings of the archival planning process published in the White Paper and was hosted by Prof. Jose Frantz, DVC for Research and Innovation. The Director of eResearch, Prof Mattia Vaccari moderated the session, and speakers included Prof Patricia Hayes (NRF SARChI Chair in Visual History and Theory, UWC), Dr Nancy McGovern (Director of Digital Preservation, the MIT Libraries, USA), Dr Valmont Layne (Centre for Humanities Research, UWC), and Dr Anthea Josias (University of Michigan).

NAV Staff


NAV fellows


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