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The UCLA Library Modern Endangered Archives Program (MEAP) offers grants to support the documentation and digitization of at-risk global cultural heritage collections. We invite applications from around the world in an open call, two round application process. Applications should identify an endangered collection and offer detail into the proposed project to document, digitize, and make accessible collections at risk from environmental conditions, political uncertainty, inherently unsustainable media, inappropriate storage, or communal and social change.
The 2025-26 Application Cycle includes updates to both the Preliminary Application and Detailed Application aimed at making the application process more accessible and providing applicants with more opportunities to communicate their proposed project plan. Changes to the Preliminary Application are listed below and will be discussed at the Applicant Webinar on October 9, 2025. Register now(opens in a new tab)
Preliminary applications are due on November 17, 2025.
Application Changes (2025-26)
- Simplified application structure. The MEAP Preliminary Application now includes 5 required sections, cut down from multiple subsections and optional tasks.
- Collection table. MEAP asks for a list of collections or sub-collections to be digitized in table form. The table asks for collection details like current location as well as whether the collection owner has agreed to participate in the project. This new format allows applicants to identify more than one collection as the focus of the grant project.
- Fewer, more focused questions. The newest iteration of the MEAP application aims to reduce duplication of questions - especially regarding the impact and significance of the project. Fewer questions allow applicants to focus their answers and provide the MEAP team with a richer sense of why they have chosen to work with a particular set of materials. Two questions now focus on the collection:
- Tell us about this collection or set of collections. Why is it important?
- What do you hope to accomplish if this project is funded?
- Open ended questions about rights and community engagement. The Preliminary Application invites applicants to describe any potential rights concerns or ethical questions in an open text question as opposed to a series of short questions. This is an opportunity for applicants to tell us what they know about the collection in terms of copyright, privacy and ethical rights. These are related topics and we invite applicants to share their thinking about securing necessary permissions from stakeholders.
- Project type questions. Planning Grants, Project Grants and Regional Grants each have project type specific questions to answer about deliverables and project planning. These are important questions that reveal what applicants know about the digitization process and how they are thinking about a structured project plan. Be sure to review MEAP documentation before completing this section.
- Sample images now required. Images help the MEAP team and review panel understand the current condition of the collection as well as the content of the collection objects. We now require a small set of images. We recommend 2 - 3 images that show the content of the collection and 2 - 3 images that show the current storage conditions.
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Preliminary Application Template 2025-26 (Cohort 8)
Template for Application Planning Purposes. Applications are due November 17, 2025 via the MEAP online application portal. *Note that the Preliminary Application has been edited for 2025-26. - about
How to Apply
MEAP invites applications for its eight round of funding. Awards are available for Planing, Project, and Regional Grants. Preliminary Applications due November 17, 2025. - default
Call for Applications: 2025-26
MEAP invites applications for its eighth round of funding. Awards are available for Planing, Project, and Regional Grants.