Licensing Policy
The British Culture Archive manages licensing for a curated selection of photographers whose work forms part of our ongoing mission to document, preserve and champion Britain’s cultural and social history. To ensure clarity, fairness and professional standards across all projects, all licensing enquiries relating to work discovered via the British Culture Archive must be handled directly by BCA.
This includes enquiries arising from:
• the BCA website and archive
• BCA exhibitions, publications and editorial features
• BCA social media channels
• media coverage or partnerships in which BCA has presented or promoted the work
Centralising licensing in this way ensures that rights are managed responsibly, photographers are represented with care, and partners — including publishers, broadcasters and production companies — receive accurate information and a consistent point of contact.
The Archive features a broad range of photographers, some of whom continue to manage their own independent licensing outside of the British Culture Archive. This independence is fully respected.
However, any licensing enquiry initiated as a result of the visibility, promotion or platforms of the British Culture Archive must be handled exclusively by BCA.
This ensures that external partners have a single, authoritative point of contact and that rights, usage and permissions are managed accurately and professionally.
British Culture Archive protects the rights of the photographers we represent. The following uses are strictly prohibited without prior written permission:
Using any BCA images, in whole or in part, for the training, development or enhancement of artificial intelligence systems, machine-learning models or data-mining technologies.
Downloading, copying, storing or extracting images from BCA platforms for any purpose outside an approved licensing agreement.
Reuse, redistribution, adaptation or repurposing of BCA images in any form, including commercial, editorial, promotional, social media or derivative artworks.
Any unauthorised reproduction for resale, merchandise, print-on-demand services or third-party platforms.
All images remain the copyright of the photographer. Unauthorised use will be pursued under UK and international copyright law.
Photographers whose work aligns with the mission of the British Culture Archive may be invited to join the Archive’s representation programme. As a selective and curated initiative, new work is reviewed once per year, and we welcome only a small number of photographers whose practice reflects the cultural and documentary focus of BCA. Representation includes:
• Licensing negotiation and usage guidance
• Rights and permissions management
• Support for publishing, editorial, exhibitions and broadcast partnerships
• Long-term strategic development of their archive
For all licensing enquiries, permissions, image clearances or usage guidance, please contact:
licensing@britishculturearchive.co.uk
All requests are reviewed individually to ensure appropriate rights clearance and fair terms for photographers and partners.
Our licensing partners include the BBC, Netflix, Chanel, Sky Arts and a range of international publishers, broadcasters and cultural institutions.
