The International Council on Archives (ICA) is pleased to launch a new travel grant opportunity for new archival professionals worldwide. This travel grant will support 5 to 10 New Professionals to attend key ICA events in 2026, offering a unique chance to expand professional networks, engage with the international archival community, and gain visibility in the field.
As part of the ICA New Professionals Programme, this initiative aims to foster inclusion and professional development by enabling early-career archivists to participate in ICA activities beyond the biennial Congress.
This year, the travel grant is open for applications to attend the following ICA events:
- SUV Conference: 8-10 September 2026, Coimbra (Portugal)
- EURBICA Conference: 13-14 November 2026, Bucharest (Romania)
- SIO Conference: 16–20 November 2026, Manila (Philippines)
- Image and Research Conference: Event supported by SLMT and PAAG, 19-20 November 2026, Girona (Spain)
New Professionals selected for the travel grant will be introduced to the organisers of the ICA event they wish to attend, who will welcome them and facilitate their engagement with the community at the event.
This initiative is designed to support emerging and early career professionals in accessing meaningful professional development opportunities that enhance their skills, broaden their networks, and contribute to the growth of the archival and records management sector.
Purpose of the Travel Grant
- Support New Professionals who seek to participate in relevant professional development activities of their choice
- Strengthen engagement with the ICA community
- Support knowledge exchange across regions and generations of professionals
- Remove financial barriers such as registration fees, travel, accommodation, or other related costs
- Encourage ongoing learning, sector engagement, and community contribution
Funding Available
Applicants may apply for a bursary of up to:
- Up to €1,000 for international participation (when attending includes a transcontinental travel)
- Up to €700 for regional participation (when attending includes a travel to a foreign country)
- Up to €500 for national participation
Funds may be used to cover the following eligible expenses:
- Registration fees
- Travel costs
- Accommodation costs
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be students, early career or emerging professionals ( with less than five years of paid working experience)
- Be engaged in archives, records management, or related fields
- Demonstrate a clear link between the activity and their professional development goals
- Submit a complete application with all required documents
Applicants also must be ICA members in good standing (Categories A, B, C, or D), either through an active individual membership or through employment with an ICA member institution or Category B association.
If you have any questions regarding your membership status, please log in to your ICA Profile or contact us at members@ica.org.
Not an ICA member yet? Start your journey today and discover how to join!
Application Requirements
A complete application must include:
- Application form (basic details + selected ICA event)
- Personal statement including:
- Explain why you wish to undertake this activity
- Describe how it supports your current role and future career
- Curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages)
- Budget breakdown with estimated expenses
How to Apply
The submission form is only available in English. Click the button below to access it:
If you have any questions regarding the submission process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at programmes@ica.org
Assessment Criteria
Applications will be assessed using the following areas:
- Relevance of the selected activity to career development
- Strength of motivation and expected impact
- Clarity and realism of the proposed budget
- Contribution to the professional community
- Diversity considerations
- Previous support received from the ICA in the past two years
While prior funding does not prevent an application from being considered, priority will be given to applications of the same level who have not received recent funding.
Recipient Responsibilities
Successful applicants will be required to submit one post activity output, such as:
- Short written reflection
- Summary report
- Social media content — Applicants who select this option will be asked to develop a content plan documenting their experience at the ICA event in the form of a participation diary. Posts will be published on Instagram; participants choosing this option are therefore required to have or create an Instagram account. This work will be carried out in coordination with the ICA Communications team.
- Brief presentation to peers
Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.
