Inside ICA: Updates from the Global Archival Community Welcome to the latest edition of Inside ICA, your guide to the latest developments, opportunities, and highlights from the International Council on Archives. In this issue, we bring together news on leadership calls, professional programmes, regional events, webinars, and expert insights, keeping you fully connected to the global archival community. Whether you are looking to get involved in ICA governance, expand your professional skills, or engage with international archival projects, this edition provides all the information you need to say informed, inspired, and involved. | | | Vice-President Finance and Member at Large Category D: ICA Calls for Nominations Open The ICA invites its members to play an active role in shaping the future of the global archival community, as calls for nominations open for key leadership and governance positions starting in 2026. These roles offer a valuable opportunity to contribute to ICA’s strategic direction, oversee its financial sustainability, and represent the voices of members at the highest level. Open positions include Vice-President Finance and Member at Large Category D, both with four-year mandates beginning after the 2026 General Assembly. ⏰ Deadline: Sunday, 12 April 2026 | | | International Archives Week 2026: Preparations Underway Ahead of Next Week’s Announcements! The global archival community will come together once again for International Archives Week (IAW), taking place from 8 to 12 June 2026. While full details will be released next week, members are already encouraged to begin preparing for this key moment in the archival calendar. Celebrated annually, IAW highlights the vital role of archives in society, not only as custodians of the past but as active contributors to accountability, memory, and the future. Organised by the ICA, the week builds on International Archives Day (9 June) and continues to serve as a global platform for advocacy, engagement, and collaboration across the profession. | | | | | The ICA Welcomes New Intern Jana Lahcine El Mejdoub The ICA is pleased to welcome Jana Lahcine El Mejdoub as an intern in the Secretariat. While at the ICA, she will contribute to the digitisation and structuring of archives as part of the ICA History Project. Jana is a master student in Archives and Digital Technologies Applied to History at the École Nationale des Chartes. Trained in both traditional archival methods and digital humanities, she focuses on how archives adapt and survive through technological change.
| | | Inside the Programme Commission
| | | Explore ICA’s Online Course Catalogue The ICA offers a comprehensive portfolio of online courses, available to both members and non-members, designed to enhance professional knowledge and skills in archives and records management. Participants can complete courses at their own pace over a three-month period and download an official certificate of completion upon passing assessments. Current courses cover a range of topics, including Collection Care, Records Management, Copyright for Archivists, Managing Digital Archives, Organising Family Archives, and Understanding and Using the UDA. ICA members benefit from preferential rates, and enrolment remains open throughout the year. | | | New Professionals Newsletter No. 27: Highlights from 2025 The latest edition of the ICA New Professionals Newsletter (Issue No. 27) is now available, offering insights and reflections from the New Professionals community. This issue looks back at 2025, a year marked by significant milestones including the International Archives Congress in Barcelona. Readers can explore conversations with NP alumni about their career journeys, gain expert advice through Q&As tailored for early career archivists, and discover how the 2025/2026 cohort experienced the Congress and the New Professionals Programme. | | | Selected PCOM Projects 2026: Showcasing Innovation and Collaboration The Programme Commission (PCOM) is pleased to present the selected PCOM projects for 2026, highlighting a diverse range of initiatives across professional exchange, knowledge-sharing, and access to archival heritage. The applications reflected the creativity and commitment of the ICA community worldwide, with projects addressing key themes such as human rights, accessibility, and the safeguarding of archival resources. Further details on these projects, their activities, and outputs will be shared in the coming months through ICA’s website and social media channels. | | | | | | | ICA/ALA Webinar – Interactive Guides for the Development of Archival Instruments As part of the PCOM initiatives, the ICA Latin American Regional Branch (ALA) invites members to a webinar on Thursday, 9 April 2026, from 16:00 to 17:30 CET (Paris time), presenting the Interactive Guides for the Development of Archival Instruments. This project, funded through the PCOM Call for Projects 2025, transforms archival theory into practical tools that support the preparation, preservation, and management of documents within institutions across Latin America. Designed with a pedagogical approach, the guides provide clear, sustainable guidance, addressing varying institutional capacities and promoting consistent, standards-based archival practices. The webinar will be conducted in Spanish. | | | | | Call for Nominations: Member-at-Large Seats on ICA Programme Commission 2027–2030 The ICA is inviting nominations for three Member-at-Large seats on the Programme Commission (PCOM) for the 2027–2030 term. PCOM oversees ICA’s professional programme, including conferences, Expert Groups, and initiatives such as the New Professionals and Training Programmes. Members-at-Large help ensure regional representation and contribute their expertise to guide ICA’s activities. Nominations are especially encouraged from Asia and Oceania, and Latin America and the Caribbean, regions currently underrepresented in PCOM. Candidates must be ICA members in good standing, archivists or records professionals, and able to participate actively in PCOM meetings. ⏰ Deadline: Sunday, 12 April 2026 | | | | | | | ICA/PAAG - Release of the Latest Beyond Theory Interviews: Virginia Bazán‑Gil and Elijah Madiba The ICA Photographic and Audiovisual Expert Group (PAAG) is pleased to announce the release of two new interviews of its Beyond Theory series, sharing practical insights on audiovisual and photographic archive management. The series features in-depth conversations with leading professionals in the field. Virginia Bazán‑Gil, Director of Archives at RTVE and President of FIAT/IFTA, speaks with Juan Alonso about running one of Europe’s major audiovisual archives, addressing preservation challenges, appraisal strategies, AI applications, and the wider role of audiovisual collections in media and society. In the second interview, Dr Elijah Madiba, sound engineer and archivist at the International Library of African Music, talks with Lerato Tshabalala about preserving, digitising, and managing African music collections, exploring ethical considerations, digitisation impacts, and the skills needed for contemporary audiovisual archivists. | | | ICA/EGAD - The Expert Group on Archival Description (EGAD) Is Now on LinkedIn! The ICA Expert Group on Archival Description (EGAD) is pleased to announce its LinkedIn presence. Follow their page for updates on our activities, events, and news, including the latest updates on Records in Contexts (RiC)! | | | | | ICA/EGAD - EGAD Is Looking for Volunteers EGAD is inviting volunteers to support its work on Records-in-Contexts (RiC). Volunteers play a key role in developing guidance, promoting adoption, and ensuring RiC remains relevant and practical for the global archival community. If you would like to contribute your expertise and help advance archival description, we encourage you to join EGAD’s efforts by contacting the group directly at eg...@ica.org for more information. | | | ICA/SAGDAA - New SAGDAA Blog Entry – PLEXUS #11: Potencia Tortillera For Women’s History Month, the ICA Working Group on Sex-Affective and Gender Diversity* Archives & Archivists (SAGDAA-WG) highlights the 15th anniversary of the Potencia Tortillera (PT) Digital Archive. Created in 2011 by a decentralized group of lesbian activists across Argentina, PT preserves digitized documents, photos, audio, and reflections on lesbian activism. PT combines a documentary and embodied approach, giving visibility to histories often erased from official narratives. Its blog, Instagram, and Facebook pages engage the community, while PT also organises initiatives such as film cycles and sisterhood gatherings. | | | | | ICA/CCWG - Global Survey on Archives and Climate Change The ICA Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) invites archivists and records professionals worldwide to participate in a global survey on the impact of climate change on archives. The survey examines both gradual and sudden climate risks, as well as existing preparedness measures, aiming to identify knowledge gaps and inform collective action. ⏰ Deadline: Wednesday, 22 April 2026 | | | | | ICA/FAN - Call for Nominations: FAN President 2026–2029 The ICA is inviting nominations for the President of the Forum of National Archivists (FAN) for 2026–2029. This key leadership role shapes FAN’s strategy, supports ICA governance, and represents Category A members on the Executive Board. Eligible candidates are leaders of Category A member institutions in good standing. Applications must include a brief resume, a personal statement, and three letters of support from voting members across at least two ICA regions. ⏰ Deadline: Sunday, 12 April 2026 | | | | | | | Inside the Regional Branches
| | | ICA/ALA - The 13th SIATI Wraps Up in Panama The 13th Seminario Internacional de Archivos de Tradición Ibérica (SIATI) concluded yesterday in Panama City, which hosted this key biennial event for Ibero‑American archival professionals. Organised by the ICA Latin American Regional Branch (ALA) with the Registro Público de Panamá – Archivo Nacional de Panamá, the seminar focused on “Archives: Democracy, Innovation, and Governance”, highlighting transparency, modernisation, and leadership in archival practice. Over three days, archivists, academics, and institutions from 18+ countries exchanged knowledge, shared best practices, and explored new initiatives to strengthen collaboration across the region. | | | | | ICA/EURBICA - Strong European Interest in EURBICA/ICDH MoW Workshop The ICA European Regional Branch (EURBICA)/ICDH Workshop on joint Memory of the World (MoW) nominations has attracted applications from 11 European countries. Held 20–22 April 2026 in Madrid, the workshop supports National Archives in developing collaborative nominations to the UNESCO MoW International Register. Participants will work on joint projects with guidance from UNESCO MoW experts. Hosted with the Spanish State Archives and supported by ICDH Korea, the initiative highlights Europe’s growing commitment to cross-border cooperation in safeguarding documentary heritage. | | | | | | | ICA/CARBICA - The Latest Newsletter is Out Now! The ICA Caribbean Regional Branch (CARBICA) has released its November–December 2025 newsletter, featuring updates, regional initiatives, and archival news from across the Caribbean. Stay informed on CARBICA activities, professional exchanges, and upcoming events in the region. | | | | | |
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