APAC Study Day 2026

Join us at The National Archives, Kew, on Monday 11 May 2026 for APAC’s annual Study Day.

The Association of Performing Arts Collections’ annual Study Day will be held at The National Archives, Kew. The day will focus on the organisation’s sector support, including their grants programme. There will be presentations from recent grant recipients showcasing their performing arts collections projects.

Schedule

11:00-11:05 Welcome/ introductions

11:05-11:45 Session from David Morris and Hannah Jones on how The National Archives and Archive Sector Leadership can support the sector

11:45-12:45 Document display/ tour

12:45-13:30 Break for lunch

13:30-14:15 Session from The National Archives’ Grants & Funding team on their grants programme

14:15-14:30 Break

14:30-15:30 Presentations from recent grant recipients

• 14:30-14:50 Frankie Drummond Charig from Sheffield City Archives (Martin F. Bedford Archive Cataloguing Project)
• 14:50-15:10 James Therobot from Sin Cru (Diggin’ in the Crates: Counter-narratives through UK Hip Hop)
• 15:10-15:30 Eleanor Fitzpatrick from Royal Academy of Dance (Kenneth MacMillan Collection)

15:30-16:00 Discussion and closing comments

Information

Attendees must book tickets using Eventbrite.

Please arrive to The National Archives Main Reception from 10:30am for the 11:00am start. The building isn’t open to researchers on Monday – the reading rooms, exhibition space and bookshop will be closed.

Information to plan your journey can be found here: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/visit-us/how-to-find-us/

We encourage attendees to bring a packed lunch along or there is an onsite café for lunch. We are advised offsite options (Costa/M&S) are a 5-10 minute walk each way.

If you have any questions or would like to forward apologies, please email secretary@performingartscollections.org.uk

Travel grants

There are five grants of £75 available to cover full or partial expenses. Please submit your application by 27 April 2026 using this online form.

(Image courtesy of Sheffield City Archives)