IBCC and University of Lincoln sign historic partnership agreement

The Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial, which owns and runs the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) and the University of Lincoln, UK, have entered a twenty-year partnership agreement.

The agreement was signed by Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Neal Juster and ACM Sir Michael Graydon, Chair of the IBCC on behalf of the two organisations. It will help promote the IBCC as a key visitor attraction for the region and to continue preserving and sharing the heritage of the bombing war.

The University of Lincoln and the IBCC have been partners in delivering the IBCC Digital Archive and exhibition since 2014, with Lincoln’s newest heritage attraction opening in 2018. It is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and has won numerous awards for its excellent visitor experience and sensitive heritage interpretation.

The University’s strategic role in the partnership has been to devise the interpretive approach to the heritage of RAF Bomber Command, and to develop and manage an ambitious digital archive to preserve and share this. The new agreement ensures delivery of these vital roles for a further twenty years.

In addition, the Archive will play key roles within the University, leading impactful research and teaching in the sphere of digital cultural heritage, extending the archival reach of the IBCC project and using staff expertise to generate income and future bids for grant funding.

Dr Craig Marsh, Pro Vice Chancellor for the Lincoln International Business School and a member of the University-IBCC Partnership Committee, said “I am delighted that the University has helped to deliver an important element of an attraction that reflects such an important part of this nation’s history. This partnership signifies our continued commitment to its success.”

Nicky van der Drift, CEO of the IBCC added: “We are delighted to be reaffirming our partnership with the University of Lincoln for the IBCC Digital Archive. The Archive is something of which we are enormously proud particularly it has set the standards for digitisation and the preservation of endangered heritage. This international story can now be freely shared with our international audience.”

Founded in 2009 by then Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Tony Worth CVO, the International Bomber Command Centre project was brought to life with the completion of a memorial that commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of those who served and supported Bomber Command, and recognises the impact of the Bombing Campaigns as well as the significant contribution of Lincolnshire to the outcome of World War II.

Story submitted by Alice Mates
amates@lincoln.ac.uk