By Noeleen Schenk |
September 12, 2025
Reflections from the Archives and Records Association Annual Conference 2025
Next Generation Thinking
It was fantastic to meet so many of you at the recent Archives and Records Association (ARA) Conference, that took place from 27-29 August in Bristol.
Our very own Noeleen Schenk, Director here at Metataxis, attended this annual conference and also hosted a workshop. She shares her experiences of the event:
The ARA Conference 2025 was easily one of the most energising and thought-provoking events I’ve attended. Held under the theme Next Generation: Innovation and Imagination in Record Keeping, the conference delivered on its promise to help us confront the challenges of our time while showcasing bold, creative approaches to archival practice.
From the outset, the atmosphere was electric. Each day began with a keynote that set the tone—three in total, each offering fresh perspectives and sparking lively discussion. The programme was structured around four themed tracks, each rich with insight and innovation:
- New Horizons – Artificial Intelligence and digital innovations
- Innovation, Sustainable Conservation and the Next Generation
- Challenging Collections
- Next Generation – Rethinking training, outreach and inclusivity
With so many compelling sessions across these tracks, choosing where to go was genuinely difficult. The breadth and quality of presentations reflected a profession that’s not just adapting to change but actively shaping it.
AI in action: Real-world use cases
A standout theme this year was the practical application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in archives and records management. These weren’t abstract concepts—they were grounded, tested, and already making a difference.
- Design Archives, Brighton shared their experiments with large language models (LLMs), using in-house taxonomies to automatically tag and catalogue vast collections of photographs and negatives.
- The National Library of Singapore demonstrated how AI is streamlining the appraisal of public records for archival transfer.
- A collaborative project showcased AI-supported metadata extraction and visual search, making historical collections more accessible across archives, museums, and libraries.
These examples showed how technology is helping us work smarter, not harder—enhancing discoverability, improving efficiency, and most importantly, widening access. The democratisation of collections is no longer a distant goal; it’s happening now.
Balancing innovation with sustainability
But with innovation comes responsibility. Several sessions raised critical questions about the environmental impact of our digital practices. As we increasingly rely on cloud-based infrastructure, the scale of our digital footprint is staggering:
- Over 12,000 data centres currently operate worldwide
- That number is projected to grow by 177% by 2030
- The average person interacts with 100 data centres a day
Delegates were challenged to rethink how we manage digital information—considering lifecycle management, reducing dark data and duplication, and optimising storage formats. It was a timely reminder that sustainability must be part of our innovation narrative.
Final thoughts
The ARA Conference 2025 didn’t just reflect where we are—it pointed to where we’re heading. It was a celebration of imagination, collaboration, and the courage to rethink how we serve our communities. If this is what the next generation of record keeping looks like, I’m feeling hopeful.
