ARA Conference 2026 - venue, dates, call for papers
Archives and Records Association UK & Ireland
Annual Conference: 5th-7th August 2026 - Glasgow
‘Authenticity’
ARA’s conference this year will take place in Glasgow (not Newcastle as previously advertised at conference in August). We are something of a victim of our own success and could not find a big enough venue in Newcastle. We had planned to go to Glasgow in 2027 so we moved it forward a year! We appreciate this week may not be ideal for everyone but we were constrained by the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and this is the only week that we can do in 2026.
The venue is the Radisson Blu which is incredibly central and right by the main railway station - so great for travel connections.
Because of the delay in confirming the dates and venue we will not be opening the portal for submissions in answer to our call for papers until the middle of January. There will then be a slightly shorter window in which to submit - however we do know the theme (see below) and ask that you check your availability, put your thinking caps on and be ready to submit when the portal opens.
Call for Papers
We are calling for papers on the theme of ‘Authenticity’.
Annie Starkey, chair of the ARA Conference Committee says:
“As we return to a fully in-person conference for 2026, it feels appropriate to address the theme of authenticity - how do we approach the practices of Record Keeping in an age where ‘truth’ feels increasingly under fire?
We've seen Heads of State alter, deny, and destroy archival records. If history is determined by the victor, how do we work with integrity and preserve the full truth when those in power may seek to quash it? Conversely, as Record keepers we have been described as 'Custodians of the Truth', but who's truth? How do we ensure fair and balanced representation, especially when some views feel so alien to us?
How do we manage the legality of digitising records for Records Management purposes, when – for example - the digitised records supersede the 'original' items as the 'legal' copies? When original formats have a limited lifespan, either because of their inherent instability or technological obsolescence – how do we give people an authentic experience when accessing born-digital records? Is authenticity in fact the priority, or does access trump truth?
There are also discussions to be had around the ethics of AI and machine-learning and its use – can it simplify tasks like metadata capture or transcription, increasing efficiency; or will it impact on data quality, dilute understanding, and lead to de-skilling of record keepers?
The authenticity of the physical record can be viewed through conservation decision-making lens, but what are the implications of the treatments we undertake and the materials we use? Are we compromising authenticity, or broadening the narrative of what can be perceived as authentic?
In an era marked by disinformation, contested histories, and rapid technological change, the concept of authenticity in recordkeeping has never been more complex—or more critical. How do we navigate truth, ethics, and recordkeeping in a Post-Truth World?”
Suggested Ideas for exploration might be:
What is the authentic experience within the archive? Is there a "hierarchy of authenticity" when prioritising or foregrounding the experience of different individuals or groups?
Does authenticity matter? Are we in danger of trying to create a static and immobile template that ignores interpretation and varied opinion?
How is authenticity changing in response to AI? In an ongoing age of disinformation, what does authenticity really mean?
How does the choice of AI source material contribute to perpetuating stereotypes around subjects such as race, gender and religion?
"Truth, trust, provenance and overcoming the 'age of stupidity'". As record-keepers, should this be our mission statement?
Archives are socially constructed - how do changing social perspectives affect authenticity?
Record keeping establishments are places of destruction as much as preservation. What narratives control retention choices? Where does the burden of authenticity rest?
Contested histories - what is the place of an archive to challenge or uphold certain narratives?
Archival and record-keeping theory – if apparently minor issues such as page order are compromised, is this conscious dissociation? What is the impact on perceived authenticity?
When archives are used within other systems of governance and authority, what does this mean for authentic narratives of major events? Presidential elections, the UK newspaper hacking scandals and the UK Post Office enquiry, have all laid bare flaws in documentation and decision-making. The use and misuse of records that have a dramatic impact on 'real life'
The digital record vs. the original record - what is the reader seeking to experience? Is one 'more' authentic than the other?
Who wields tools of authentication such as heritage science? What role does material analysis play in understanding collections? How can new technologies deepen this understanding?
Does interventive conservation treatment compromise authenticity? Best practice dictates use of sympathetic materials, emphasising reversibility, but what does it mean for treatment integrity when manufacturing processes of materials are changed, or accessibility is affected by external factors such as climate change?
What of inevitable changes to the item to preserve them and/or make them accessible? Is accessibility the enemy of authenticity? Do these treatments change the fundamental nature of collection material?
And of course, we are open to many more ideas than this!
All we need at this stage is a 500 word (max) abstract for your presentation, panel or workshop. We expect that all presentations will be made in-person in Glasgow.
As in previous conferences we offer the following formats:
Individual contributions – presentations of 20 minutes, and if successful your proposal will be combined into a session with other speakers.
Panel sessions – three to five speakers presenting related papers on a specific theme or topic.
60 minute workshop – a longer session aimed at including a practical element as well as presentation.
Further details will be available in January.