BURSARY
INFORMATION
Making the Case to Attend ARA2026
Attending even a single day of the ARA2026 Conference is an investment your institution will benefit from as you return to work ready to demonstrate how the skills, networks, and insights you have gained at ARA2026 will make you more effective in your role. Alongside the main programme, you're welcome to join us for the Civic Welcome Reception and/or the Thursday evening Gala Dinner & Awards, both of which are great opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the sector.
If you need a hand getting sign-off, we've put together a model business case letter you can adapt and send to your employer.
Financial Help to Attend ARA2026
The ARA Annual Conference is outstanding value: your full delegate fee covers accommodation, meals, and an intensive three-day programme. We want as many members as possible to benefit from it. However, we know that attending isn't always straightforward, whether it's the cost, securing time away from work, or both. That's why the Conference Committee offers bursaries and day-attendance rates, so that financial or practical barriers don't stand between you and the conference.
Bursaries are available to those who have not received a conference bursary in the last three years (i.e. in Bristol 2025, Birmingham 2024, Belfast 2023).
There are five types of bursaries available this year.
The ARA Member Full Bursary covers full Conference attendance (three-day programme, two nights’ accommodation at the Radisson Blu, Glasgow and three meals a day) and travel expenses of up to £100.
To apply, you must be an individual member of ARA and have been a member for at least one year, and who is, at the closing date for applications, either a student member, a full member, an overseas member or is registered on the conservation certificate course.
Four full ARA Member Bursaries are available.
Applications open on Monday, 18 May 2026, and will close at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 3 June 2026.
One full bursary is available for members of the ARA Section for New Professionals who have never attended an ARA conference or received an ARA bursary of any sort.
The funds for this bursary are raised by crowdfunding.
Applications open on Monday, 18 May 2026, and will close at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 3 June 2026.
Two bursaries are open to members and non-members of the ARA.
Applicants need to meet the following criteria:
- Have a Black and/or Minority Ethnic background
- Not have a postgraduate qualification in archives, conservation or records management
(If you are a speaker at ARA 2026 from a Black and/or Minority Ethnic background, you are eligible to apply for any ARA Diversity bursary)
Applications open on Monday, 18 May 2026, and will close at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 3 June 2026.
Four bursaries are available through our Premier Conference Sponsor, Ancestry. These bursaries are available to archivists, including archive managers, company archivists, principal archivists, and collection managers from a local authority archive who have either never attended the ARA Conference before or have not attended in the last three years (i.e. were not at Bristol 2025, Birmingham 2024, Belfast 2023).
Applications open on Monday, 18 May 2026, and will close at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 3 June 2026.
One bursary is available from Conservation by Design. This bursary is open to members and non-members of the ARA.
Applicants for this bursary need to meet the following criteria:
- We offer the bursary for any conservation grade role - e.g. Conservator, Conservation Assistant, Conservation Technician, Conservation student who has not attended an ARA Annual Conference in the last three years (i.e. did not attend Bristol 2025, Birmingham 2024 and Belfast 2023).
Awards will cover reasonable travel expenses within the UK and Ireland, and the conference fee, which includes accommodation and meals, as detailed in the conference programme.
(NB: if you are a speaker at ARA2026, you are eligible to apply for a Conservation by Design Bursary).
Applications open on Monday, 18 May 2026, and will close at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 3 June 2026.