GB · International contemporary art platformThe National Lottery Heritage Fund reported on 18 August 2026 that a major programme led by the National Library of Wales has completed extensive work to preserve the BBC Wales Archive. The initiative was supported by a £5,156,204 grant awarded in 2017, rather than a new award made this year.
The project created purpose-built storage and digitised around 240,000 hours of radio and television material covering almost a century of Welsh broadcasting. More than 180,000 individual items have been secured for future generations, including records of major events in twentieth-century Welsh history and the development of Welsh-language broadcasting.
Public access was also expanded through 14 local “clip corners” at county archives. More than 1,500 volunteers and over 300 interactive events helped communities engage with the collection. The project demonstrates how long-term investment in archives can turn vulnerable media records into an accessible cultural resource.
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