Introduction

Introduction

Archives serve as the custodians of our collective memory, preserving records of the past for the benefit of present and future generations. When Archives Unlocked was launched seven years ago by the then Culture Minister, it set a bold direction for our sector. The vision aimed to transform how archives are preserved, accessed, and utilised, reinforcing their role as custodians of our collective memory. Developed in a different digital and cultural landscape, before the challenges of the global pandemic, the vision centred on three key ambitions of Trust, Enrichment, and Openness.

In 2024, we are inviting colleagues across the sector to play their part in creating a new sector-wide strategic vision. Should any of the previous ambitions remain central to the Government’s vision for archives? Are new challenges emerging which should be explored? Should our priorities be reconsidered? The Government’s vision for archives has been underpinned by regular action plans, which set out the steps needed to deliver the vision’s ambitions. Since 2017, these plans have focused on seven key themes: Digital Capacity, Resilience, Impact, Diversity and Inclusion, Innovation and Risk, Advocacy and Reputation, and Health and Wellbeing.

How was the strategic vision developed?

The development of the Archives Unlocked vision and its action plan was shaped extensively through a detailed consultation process conducted by The National Archives from April 2016 to January 2017. This process involved two main stages of consultation: an initial consultation with 179 participants across roundtables in Wiltshire, London, Manchester, and Birmingham, and an online survey that attracted 235 responses. A subsequent consultation refined the draft vision through an online survey with 100 responses and through a final series of roundtables and key stakeholder sessions. Since the development of the strategy, the Archives Unlocked Steering Group, drawn from across the archives sector and from partner organisations beyond, has provided ongoing support and direction.