Call for Papers - ARA Conference 2023 - “Communities”
‘Communities’
Call for Papers for ARA Annual Conference 2023
30 August – 1 September 2023, Belfast
ARA’s 2023 conference returns to Belfast for the first time since 2007.
Our theme will be ‘Communities’ and over three days we want to talk about our communities of users, stakeholders, colleagues and collaborators, revisit and rebuild relationships and connections, address those issues prevalent within and between us which we must tackle, and enrich our professional community with learning and inspiration.
Our 2022 conference brought this professional community together in person for the first time since the pandemic, and, building on that experience, we want to use our 2023 gathering to serve and strengthen the recordkeeping community.
Areas for submissions might include:
How do we better serve our communities? How have our users needs changed, how do we reach communities we’ve found it hard to connect with before, how do we ensure ‘with and not to’ is better embedded as the mantra for our outreach and community engagement? How can we better involve communities in decision making about our services and priorities?
How can we build a stronger recordkeeping community? Do we make use of all the talent we could within our community, are the right opportunities available and supported? How can we strengthen and redouble efforts to build a more diverse, open and more representative community of professionals?
With the challenges of war in Europe and covid still with us, the cost of living crisis deepening, and with the change brought by Brexit also a factor, how is the recordkeeping landscape different, what has changed and how is it playing out practically, particularly for those of us who work internationally or in the information governance space? What can we share or learn from, what still remains to be done in a world of technical and societal change?
These questions are only suggestive of potential areas that could be included, but the programme is really shaped by you! What would you like to say at #ARA2023 ?
Proposals
We aim to accommodate different types of presentation and have rationalised our key formats in response to feedback received after the 2022 Conference. While we are happy to consider alternatives, it helps us to programme if you can suggest a proposal which fits one of the formats listed below. When you submit your proposal please give details of the format you would prefer or contact us for an informal discussion conference@archives.org.uk
Individual contributions – presentations of 20 minutes, and if successful your proposal will be combined into a session with other speakers
Panel sessions – up to three 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
Please remember:
We aim to devise a coherent programme, so please connect your proposal to the theme
We would like proposals that will stimulate debate
We want diverse panels of speakers. If you have particular requirements (e.g. accessibility, interpretation, etc.) please let us know and we will make every effort to accommodate you.
Anyone who has experience or expertise in working with records can submit a paper. Contributions are welcomed from across the UK and Ireland, and from colleagues in the global recordkeeping community. And of course we welcome submissions from other sectors too.
Please remember that this conference is designed as an in-person event, with the ARA providing other opportunities for training and development online. If you submit a proposal you should have a reasonable expectation that, if invited, you would be able to attend in person in Belfast to make your contribution.
How do I submit a proposal?
Please use this link to make a submission: Oxford Abstracts Link
If you require assistance please contact conference@archives.org.uk
Key Dates
The submissions system will open on 28 November 2022 and close on Thursday 12 January 2023.
Notification of invitations to speak are expected to be issued from week beginning 27 February 2023
The programme will be published shortly after that date and conference registration will open.
Expenses
All speakers will receive free conference registration for the day on which they are presenting. We are unable to pay accommodation costs, but speakers will be reimbursed travel expenses up to a maximum of £100.
Our Conference Venue
Our venue for 2023 will be the Europa Hotel, Belfast. Located in the heart of the city, the venue is close to all the major Belfast attractions and connected to rail and sea links, and to Belfast City and International airports. Travel options to help you attend are available here.