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Why are archives important?

Archives have value to nations and regions, organisations, communities, and individual people. They provide evidence of activities, they tell stories, document people and serve as valuable sources of information for research.

Local authorities have statutory responsibilities relating to archives, including making proper arrangements for records created by the local authority itself and for archives that have been deposited with it by individuals and communities. This includes making them publicly accessible, in line with data protection legislation. Usually this is carried out by the local authority’s archive service, which will have at least one qualified archivist on staff. Archives can also be found in universities, businesses, historic houses and charities across the UK.

Why an archive of your cultural infrastructure project is key

Large cultural infrastructure projects are intended to be a catalyst for change including leaving a positive legacy for the for the local area and its communities. An archive of the project will evidence that change. In addition, significant amounts of public money are spent on these projects, and the archive will inform local communities how this money was spent, how key decisions were made, and what was achieved.

The local authority archive service is the natural home for the archive, even if the project has been delivered by a charitable trust. This ensures it will become part of the history of the locality. It is also the first place researchers will look for it.

In most situations, collecting material of historic value is reactive and occurs after the event has occurred. For large cultural infrastructure projects, a proactive approach is imperative: we know beforehand that this story is one that needs to be captured and preserved so it can be subsequently re-told. If we wait ten years before gathering the material, only a small fraction will have survived – meaning there will be a much less complete picture of events.

Ensuring the bid, delivery and creative teams are working with a qualified archivist from the beginning of the project will help to create an archive that covers the planning, delivery, and legacy of the project.