Moving Image Conservation Research Laboratory (MICRL), BFI National Archive

Description

The Moving Image Conservation Research Laboratory (MICRL) is a heritage-science laboratory being established at the BFI National Archive's Conservation Centre (the J. Paul Getty Jr. Conservation Centre) in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, to research the material composition, degradation and conservation of film, video and paper-based collections. It is funded by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council through the UKRI Infrastructure Fund, as part of the Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) programme, with a GBP 1 million award announced in October 2024 and a planned opening in 2026.

The laboratory is organised around three research strands: materials analysis (using techniques including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence and microfade testing), interventive conservation treatments for damaged film and video, and colour research to support the identification and reproduction of historical cinema colour systems. Hosted by the BFI National Archive, it is intended to open its capabilities to other UK and international archives, universities and researchers, with early collaborative work on video-tape degradation underway with partners including Diamond Light Source and the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland.

Currently active

Yes

Offers funding

No, this infrastructure does not provide funding.

Founding year

2024

Contact details

On the map

Go to larger version of this map

Categorisation

Type

Tags

Additional Partnerships

Diamond Light Source; Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland)