Tag: International Council on Archives

CFP: ICA Section on University and Research Institution Archives

ICA/SUV 2025 ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

XXX JORNADAS DE LA CONFERENCIA DE ARCHIVEROS DE LAS UNIVERSIDADES ESPAÑOLAS

Barcelona, 27th-28th October 2025 / 27 – 28 Octubre 2025

CALL FOR PAPERS / LLAMADA DE COMUNICACIONES

“Innovating University and Research Archives. Challenges Towards Sustainability”

“Archivos de Universidades y de Investigación Innovadores. Desafíos para la Sostenibilidad”

The International Council on Archives Section on University and Research Institution Archives (ICA-SUV) and the Archivists Conference of the Spanish Universities (CAU – CRUE) are pleased to announce their annual conference for 2025.The conference, titled Innovating University and Research Archives. Challenges Towards Sustainability, will be held at the University Autonomous of Barcelona in Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain), 27-28 October, 2025. This will be an in-person conference. 

This conference presents an opportunity for reflective discussion about many aspects around:

1. Alignment of University Archives with the SDGs and Compliance with the 2030 Agenda The 2030 Agenda is a United Nations action plan for the people, the planet, and prosperity. The Agenda sets out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with 169 targets aimed at achieving a balanced approach to three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social, and environmental spheres. The contribution of University and Research Institutions Archives in reaching these goals is crucial. Wellbeing, Education and Quality, Reduce Inequalities, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Responsible Consumption and Production, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions are among those objectives where the impact of the work of archivists can be most significant.

We welcome proposals which:

•     Use practical examples to demonstrate how university and research institution archives can support the SDGs.

•     Focus on specific goals such as Good Health and Well-being or Reduced Inequalities to show how records and archives are vital in contributing to success in these areas.

•     Explore how archivists can work in partnership with others to support their institution and society to achieve these goals.

2. Archives in the Face of the Climate Emergency: Prevention and Actions

The consequences of climate change are increasingly influencing our daily lives, with effects becoming more catastrophic for people and their environment. Archives and documentary heritage, due to their special structural vulnerability within the institutions to which they belong, have been directly affected in recent years by floods, storms, fires, and other disasters arising from the climate emergency. This affects history, memory, culture, and the identity of communities, as well as the fulfilment of citizens’ rights and obligations by public administrations, alongside the enforcement of transparency and accountability. The adaptation of our services may be crucial in the protection of both people and heritage.

We welcome proposals which explore some of the following topics:

•   How archivists can ensure they are prepared for potential disasters and emergencies, particularly in a university setting

•   What archive services can do to limit the harm they do to the environment and to support sustainability

•   The importance of university and research institution archives in providing evidence of climate change and supplying data which can help society to plan for a better future

3. Archives: Experiences of Adaptation and Innovation

Digital transformation and the move to digital governance in institutions have posed a challenge for archives and professionals in the area of document and record management. Maintaining the role of records and archives as a core element which reaches across increasingly digitised management structures has been one of the most significant goals of the century. Colleagues have successfully adapted to innovations and become more visible, offering society and its organisations an essential and innovative service in document and records management, while also becoming a reference in the promotion of their historical heritage.

We welcome proposals that discuss:

•   Innovative approaches to the management of archives and records in digital systems.

•   Successful collaboration with other professionals, such as information technologists and others.

•   Effective advocacy for the importance of consulting archivists when designing and running digital governance and management systems

Professional conversations at conferences like this are important to furthering global and local understanding of innovating University and Research Archives and challenges towards the sustainability.

Papers and presentations formats: 

  • Lightning Talks: Rapid and concise presentations; 10 minutes long 
  • Papers: Research/scholarly papers; 20 minutes long; can be analytical, descriptive, or reflective 
  • Experiences: A 15-minute presentation related to subtopic 3.
  • Panel Discussion: Composed of 3 speakers, plus a facilitator, with varied perspectives discussing a similar topic; indicate length of time requested 
  • Posters: Presentation of research work, a project, an idea, or any other type of work in poster format, which participants of the ICA-SUV and the CAU Conference can view in a dedicated space at the conference venue. Those presenting a poster should be present during the presentation session to provide explanations and answer questions related to the poster.
  • Wild Card : Submit your own idea or format and indicate length of time requested

Please submit to Caroline Brown, ICA-SUV Chair, at c.z.brown@dundee.ac.uk an abstract of 250-300 words accompanied by a bibliography of at least two titles, which will not count towards the 250-word minimum plus the following information:

Short bio for each speaker (150-200 words) 
Title of paper or presentation
Presentation format
Name(s) of speaker(s)
Job title(s) and institution(s)
Postal address and email address

CFP: Tandanya-Adelaide Declaration Symposium 2024

We are pleased to announce the call for papers for the Tandanya-Adelaide Declaration Symposium 2024, which will take place during this year’s conference on 24 October 2024 at the Te Pae Convention Centre, Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa. Join us on the lands of the Ngāi Tahu to reflect on and discuss the implementation of the Tandanya-Adelaide Declaration.

The Tandanya-Adelaide Declaration (the Declaration) is a milestone document that was launched by the International Council of Archives (ICA) and the National Archives of Australia (NAA) on 25 October 2019. The Declaration called on the jurisdictional archives of the world to acknowledge and adopt themes and commitments of the declaration for immediate action. 

The Tandanya-Adelaide Declaration Symposium will provide opportunities to critically reflect on the Declaration, both as a statement of purpose but also as a guide to practical action. The event is an opportunity to hear from and connect with First Nations community members, GLAM practitioners and allies on work undertaken to implement the Tandanya-Adelaide Declaration. 

Themes

The Symposium Programming Committee invites community, organisational and institutional perspectives on the use of the Declaration. Participants are encouraged to share the ways in which they have been utilising the Declaration in their work and activities. The day aims to focus on discussing existing projects and invites critical conversations on gaps and needed improvements. 

The Symposium Programming Committee will give preference to lightning talks that align with the Tandanya-Adelaide Declaration’s five themes:

  1. Knowledge authorities
  2. Property and ownership
  3. Recognition and identity
  4. Research and access
  5. Self-determination

Important Dates

Submission Deadline: Monday 22 July 2024, midnight (AEST)

Submission

You can find full details and how to submit your abstract here.

Questions? Contact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Special Interest Group

Symposium Programming Committee: Indigenous Archives Collective and ASA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Special Interest Group

CFP: ICA Section on Archives of Literature and Art Symposium

Please contact Heather Dean, hdean  @ uvic.ca (no extra spaces) with questions!

International Council on Archives
Section on Archives of Literature and Art
November 20-21 2024 | Virtual Symposium

The English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton is credited with the well-known phrase, “the pen is mightier than the sword.” This sentiment on the power of literature and art can be found across cultures. Those in the arts are uniquely poised to provide social commentary, to speak truth to power, and to provide an unflinching portrayal of our shared humanity. Literary and artistic archives include archives created by journalists, poets, novelists, painters, sculptors, and other writers and artists, as well as arts organizations, galleries, publishers, editors, and all of those involved in arts creation and dissemination. These archives – like the creators and works they document – are bestowed with a unique and resonant power.    

The International Council on Archives’ Section on Archives of Literature and Art welcomes proposals for a 2024 virtual symposium celebrating and interrogating the power of the arts and cultural archives. 

The Program Committee encourages proposals on the following themes. Note: Proposals on other themes related to archives of literature and art will also be considered:    

  • The intersection of human rights, archives, and the arts, such as the archives of dissident artists and writers, journalists, and other creatives and arts organizations who have challenged injustice.
  • Born digital archives and the unique challenges of preserving and providing access to archives of artists and writers.
  • Ensuring the enduring preservation of arts archives during times of political unrest and turmoil.
  • Approaches to decolonizing archives with particular focus on arts and cultural archives.
  • The role of cultural archives in truth and reconciliation and fostering cultural resilience.  

Session Formats 

The symposium will be held online over two days (November 20 and 21) to accommodate various time zones. The conference will take place in English, however, speakers are invited to present in their language of choice, and translation into English will be provided. 

You do not need to be a member of ICA to submit a proposal, however, we ask that presenters consider joining the ICA.  

Single Paper: Submissions of single presentations, of no more than 15 minutes, are welcome, and will be coordinated into panels by the programme committee.  

Roundtable Talks: These sessions are comprised of 5-6 speakers providing short presentations which are thematically related, and which may include a more informal discussion in response to questions organized in advance by the session moderator.  The moderator is responsible for organizing speakers and distributing questions in advance. Please include the name of the moderator and speakers.  

Panels: Panels are comprised of 3 speakers, each providing a 15 minute talk on a related topic. These sessions are 60 minutes (inclusive of time for questions). These can be pre-arranged between groups (please include an abstract and title for each paper), or submitted individually. 

Symposium Language

The symposium seeks to foster a global exchange of perspectives and ideas. While the symposium will largely take place in English, proposals for presentations in any language are welcome and a limited number of translators will be available to provide live translation into English.  

Submission Process

Proposals are due on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Submissions will be reviewed by the programme committee starting the first week of July and decisions will be shared by July 31. 

Please complete the following form with your submission details: forms.gle/FYUVDFhe7rPUXSSs8. 

Important Dates

June 30                              Deadline for Submissions

July 31                                  Notification of Submissions 

August 14                          Confirm Attendance

September 1                     Registration Opens

November 20-21:            Symposium