National Jazz Archive

The National Jazz Archive has just received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Dame Cleo Laine announces. 


The UK’s finest collection of material detailing the history of Jazz and Blues is to be transformed thanks to an award of £346,300.

The National Jazz Archive tells the story of Jazz and Blues in the UK through photographs, printed articles, memorabilia, artworks and personal papers donated by leading musicians including Mike Westbrook and Ian Carr. The collection is based at Loughton Library in Essex, housing more than 3,000 books, periodicals and bulletins covering over 600 titles.  The Archive was founded in 1988 by Digby Fairweather.


The HLF award will mean that this varied and wide-ranging collection can be fully conserved and catalogued for the first time.

• Many of the photographs and documents will be made available on a new “Story of British Jazz” website, hosting sound files not only of music but also recordings of iconic British jazz figures' memories. 
• New exhibitions to be held at Jazz venues and festivals around the country
• Some of the biggest winners from today’s announcement will be the next generation of British Jazz musicians, benefiting from new opportunities to enjoy this fascinating collection.
• Find out more about the NJA here.