Archives are to be placed front and centre as opportunities for education, inspiration, and societal cohesion, with historical records to be “used and valued by everyone”, a national vision for England has declared.
The ‘Archives at the Heart of Society’ strategy, commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in the summer of 2024, calls for an end to the “undervalued” nature of a service performing a “unique role”.
Launched today (17 April) by Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross, the document is the result of work led by the National Archives and BOP Consulting.
From in-person roundtables to online consultations, the findings have created ambitions to ensure more attention is brought to the part archives play in the classroom; in supporting democratic processes, especially major public inquiries; and in inspiring researchers, writers, filmmakers, and more.
“Our national and local archives steward collections that make up our nation’s memory,” Twycross said.
“They contain stories that bind us, offer insight into our own genealogy, provide inspiration that sparks creative works, and unlock vital data that enable research and effective administration.
“By safeguarding our collective knowledge, archives connect individuals to their identities and communities to their shared histories. They preserve the essence of who we are, support social justice and protect our cultural heritage.”
The minister added: “In a rapidly changing world, this vision, along with all those working within our archives sector, seeks to secure archives for the future and ensure that everyone sees the relevance of archives to their lives.”
‘Committed to bringing this vision to life’
Developed with archive services and partners across England, the vision will guide funders, partners, and services in their decision-making and areas of priority.
The strategy itself focuses on three key themes. Firstly, sustainability, with calls for archives to be financially, environmentally and organisationally resilient, to ensure services can care for their collections well into the future.
Accessibility is also a primary concern, with emphasis on making sure collections can be easily discovered and consulted both in-person and online.
Finally, the inclusivity strand asks that archives “better reflect the diversity of lived experience in England”, and that services work to engage those historically under‑represented in collections and practice.
In order to enact the vision, the National Archives has unveiled a new National Touring and Supported Regional Loan programme, to help bring “nationally important collections” to communities across England.
Alongside this, a multi-year leadership programme with the Archives and Records Association will strengthen skills and advocacy across the archive workforce; while a Belonging and Placemaking scheme will offer grants and create a network focused on sharing inclusive archival practice, to deepen community engagement nationwide.
Saul Nassé, chief executive of the National Archives, said: “Archives hold an essential role at the heart of our society – preserving our collective memory.
“As the government lead for the archives sector in England, we are committed to bringing this new vision to life.”