About the AABC Anti-Racism Bursary

In June 2020, the AABC Executive Committee presented a statement in response to the call for an end to racism, injustice, and violence faced by  Indigenous, Black and/or People of Colour (IBPOC) communities in Canada and abroad. The AABC publicly acknowledged the institutional racism within archival theory, practice and the profession itself. In this statement, the AABC identified four key actions it would implement prior to the 2021 AGM. One of these was the creation of an anti-racism bursary offered for every distance education course.

Many archivist job postings require additional training and education beyond an undergraduate degree, such as a Master of Archival Studies (MAS) or equivalent. Graduate programs are notoriously expensive, making the archival profession less accessible to marginalized communities. While the AABC has traditionally offered educational courses on various topics relevant to archivists, these too come at significant cost. The purpose of the bursary is to eliminate the financial barrier for IBPOC individuals who want to join the archival profession.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send an email to: info@aabc.ca.

Who is eligible:

All candidates who identify as Indigenous, Black and/or a Person of Colour (IBPOC) are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to BC residents, but applications from elsewhere in Canada are also welcome. Both members and non-members of the AABC are invited to apply.

What is included:

The Anti-Racism Bursary covers the registration and textbook costs of one applicant per distance education course offered by the AABC.

The bursary applies to the upcoming distance education courses offered during the April 1, 2025 - March 31, 2026 fiscal year, including:

• “Managing Moving Image and Sound Records” (April 7 - June 16, 2025)
• "Managing Archives" (September 8 - November 17, 2025)
• "Oral History: From Theory to Practice" (January 12 - March 23, 2026)

Current Bursary opportunity:

• Bursary applications open on February 1, 2025 for the "Managing Moving Image and Sound Records" distance education course.
• Application deadline: closed.
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How to apply:

To apply, fill out the linked [Google form]. You will be asked to provide your contact information and answer the following three questions:

1) Do you identify as Indigenous, Black and/or a Person of Colour (IBPOC)?

2) How important is this funding to you and/or your organization?

3) How will the content of this distance education course benefit you and build upon your professional development in the arts, culture, and heritage field?

Applications are assessed for eligibility and completeness using the Anti-Racism Bursary - Matrix and Selection Procedure.

Application period:

Applications for the Anti-Racism Bursary will be accepted during the first four weeks of the course registration period. This four week period provides enough time for textbooks to be shipped to and received by the successful candidate prior to the start of the course.

When applicants will be contacted:

All applicants will be informed of the results of their application before the end of the course registration period. Applicants not selected for the bursary are still welcome to register at the regular registration rate.