ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE

Duka - Duka’s Dilemma (courtesy of Jean Lydal; Duka’s Dilemma).

Description

The RAI is the world’s longest established scholarly association dedicated to the furtherance of anthropology in its broadest and most inclusive sense. A core activity has been the promotion of Visual Anthropology and ethnographic film as a means of dialogue between academics, TV and visual media professionals and the general public. As well as organising a biennial Festival of Ethnographic Film, the RAI manages one of the most comprehensive ethnographic film and video libraries in the world, a fast growing film archive and since the mid-1980s, it has run an international Video/DVD sales service. The RAI Film Committee is composed of international recognised British film and TV documentary makers and university teachers of visual anthropology.
The RAI’s film library was set up in 1971. The major part of the collection is contemporary (i.e. 1960 till present). Most of Granada Television’s Disappearing World series is held. The RAI sponsors an Ethnographic Film Festival every two years, which is held at different hosting institutions each time.

Website

http://www.therai.org.uk/

Keywords

Ethnography; Anthropology

Access

Opening hours by appointment; Mon-Fri 10.30am -17 pm; please contact film@therai.org.uk or admin@therai.org.uk.
Hiring and Sale of films and videos for non-commercial educational purposes only.

Access for outsiders

Yes

Facilities

None

Copyright

RAI own copyright in limited cases.

Moving Image, Audio and Related Documentation Holdings

Books

RAI has a book library which is housed with British Museum (Museum of Mankind before recent changes) which is completely separate from Film and Video collections.

Masters

Approx 300 masters.

Still Images

RAI has a Photo Archive which is completely separate from Films and Video collections.

Video/Film

More than 1000 titles in Film & Video Library and Reference Film Archive. Over 300 titles in Video/DVD Sales Collection.

Artefact and Related Documentation Holdings

Cinema

Projectors

Documents

Correspondence; Diaries, unpublished memoirs etc; Scripts and treatments; Personal papers; Photographs; Other production documentation

Projection & Viewing

Data projectors; Slides

Catalogues

Computerised database

Online catalogue under construction

Online catalogue

Video sales list and Film & Video Library Catalogues (restricted use to UK).

Printed catalogue

RAI Film Catalogue Vols I and II, plus additional leaflet for new acquisitions.

Digitised catalogue

No. Ongoing debate.

Additional Information

Artefact notes

Filemaker pro /Dublin code;

Main Contact

Name

Susanne Hammacher

Job title

Film Officer

Telephone

020 7387 0455

Fax

020 7383 4235

Email

film@therai.org.uk

Address

50 Fitzroy Street
London
W1T 5BT