16.05.2006
South East Film & Video Archive today becomes Screen Archive South East and has also launched a new online search facility. The archive was established at the University of Brighton in 1992. The name change signifies a new beginning for the collection - for the first time the archive shows online, the moving history of the region. It not only focuses on film and video but now includes magic lantern slides as well as the digital media of the 21 century and is available at www.brighton.ac.uk/screenarchive.
The launch of a new e-resource, Screen Search, also means that for first time the archive's collection is fully searchable online at www.brighton.ac.uk/screensearch. Funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council, Screen Search aims to be a key resource for learning, teaching and research in the region. It contains an enhanced catalogue of selected films from the collection, contextual information and references to associated materials and other resources that relate to the history of each film.
In the past, people could only view the collection by watching it on film and videotape but now they can simply turn on a computer to get a flavour of the material available. The resource contains over 100 film clips and over 250 stills combining streaming video clips, extensive background information on the films and links to reference resources around the region and the UK. There is a growing catalogue of over 500 films with more being added every week.
The Fun of the Fair (1962), by John Mitchell, Screen Archive South East collection
The regional archive, aims to preserves and provides access to screen material related to the south-east from the late 1890s to the present day. Aspects of the past are brought to life. It depicts the region at war with films showing land girls in Surrey, air raid practice in Hove, the use of ration books as well as the results of bomb damage. Material also shows lost traditional rural skills and farming practices and the demolition and building of new urban spaces such as Crawley. The history of the seaside from Bognor to Margate can also be viewed and serves as a rich, invaluable and unique historical resource.
Dr Frank Gray, Director of Screen Archive South East said: "Films connect with living memory and this archive brings the past to live in an exciting and innovative way. This collection represents a unique social, cultural and historical record of the region on film and we are contributing to people's knowledge as well as plugging into the new digital world."
Archive details
The archive is part of the University of Brighton and its primary partner is the West Sussex Record Office at Chichester. Our Conservation Centre and collection are housed within the Record Office and our office is located at the University.
Screen Archive South East's funding
The Screen Archive exists because its mission is shared by a number of local authorities and institutions across the south-east. The University of Brighton and West Sussex Record Office (West Sussex County Council) are the lead partners and they are joined by the Brighton & Hove Museum Service, East Sussex Record Office (East Sussex County Council), the Kent Archive Service (Kent County Council) and the Surrey History Centre (Surrey County Council).
The Screen Archive receives annual revenue funding from Screen South, the regional screen agency.
About the AHRC
The development of the SASE Search web site was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). "The AHRC funds postgraduate training and research in the arts and humanities, from archaeology and English literature to design and dance. The quality and range of research supported not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK".
Contact:
Dr Frank Gray
Archive Director
Screen Archive South East
University of Brighton
Grande Parade
Brighton BN2 0JY, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1273 643213
Fax: +44 (0)1273 643214
Email: screenarchive@brighton.ac.uk
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
