Mission

Mission:

The Board of the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology at Lund University officially endorsed The Folklife Archives with the Scania Music Collections' mission on September 30, 2020.

The Folklife Archives: Capturing Everyday Life for Tomorrow

Background:

Having been an integral part of the university since its establishment in 1913, initially under the Department of Ethnology, The Folklife Archives expanded with the inception of the Scania Music Collections in 1981. This initiative, launched by the Skåne County Council's cultural organization, saw its integration into the Folklife Archives in 1991. Since 2012, the Folklife Archives has functioned as an independent unit within the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology.

Conducting proactive documentation and collection efforts, often in collaboration with researchers and students, the Folklife Archives houses a wealth of cultural-historical and ethnological materials. These encompass narratives, sound recordings, photographs, and various visual artifacts, serving as invaluable sources of knowledge about daily life both past and present.

Purpose of Lund University Folklife Archives:

The Folklife Archives serves a dual purpose, with a dedicated focus on the academic realm and a broader societal perspective on cultural heritage issues. Functioning as a crucial infrastructure, it facilitates research and education by offering support, archiving research data, and showcasing students' collected materials. Furthermore, the archives actively engage in teaching and provide a knowledge base for students. Lund University Folklife Archives also spearheads and investigates both historical and contemporary materials.

Positioned as a cultural heritage actor, the archives actively collects, manages, processes, and disseminates knowledge reflecting people's everyday lives across different times and contexts. The materials housed, including those from the Scania Music Collections, form a vital component of the university's historical heritage, contributing significantly to society's comprehension of how the past influences the present.

The Folklife Archives is committed to:

1. Serving as an infrastructure for research and education.
2. Initiating and conducting independent research.
3. Ensuring the long-term management, expansion, and accessibility of both physical and digital collections.
4. Initiating, collecting, preserving, and showcasing daily life in Sweden through narratives and various forms of expression.
5. Engaging in outward-facing and public activities, fostering collaboration with the surrounding community.
6. Actively participating in the university's cultural activities and playing a dynamic role in the cultural heritage sector.

To reinforce its commitment, a reference group, appointed by the faculty management, supports the archives by providing scientific guidance and advice.