The morning began at the historic Archive of the Crown of Aragon, where the ICA European Regional Branch (EURBICA) General Assembly welcomed archival leaders from across Europe. EURBICA President Cristian Anița set an inspiring tone, emphasising that “archives matter not only as memories of the past but as foundation for the future,” a sentiment echoed by ICA President Josée Kirps, highlighting the vital links between regional and global initiatives.
In parallel, a full programme of ICA group meetings took place across the day, including sessions of regional branches, professional sections, expert groups, and working forums, offering members the opportunity to collaborate, share insights, and drive ongoing projects forward. A detailed overview of all meetings is available here.
Following the Assembly, delegates enjoyed an exclusive guided tour of the Archive, gaining privileged access to one of Europe’s most important repositories of documentary heritage. The venue then hosted a gathering of ICA Regional Branch Presidents, where the Malaysian delegation shared an engaging presentation announcing Sarawak as the next host city for the ICA Conference in 2027. The decision was widely welcomed, and sparked anticipation for continuing this global journey of knowledge exchange and cultural connection.
In the afternoon, one of the Congress’s most timely and important events unfolded at the Residencia d’Investigadors, where the ICA’s Expert Group Against Theft, Trafficking and Tampering (EGATTT) led a landmark symposium on safeguarding documentary heritage. Against the backdrop of growing global attention to cultural heritage theft and illicit trade, the symposium drew strong interest and press coverage, underscoring the urgency of the topic and the shared responsibility to protect the world’s documentary memory.
The session began with remarks from EGATTT Chair Arda Scholte and Ana Gómez Rabal of the Spanish National Research Council. A defining moment followed when ICA President Josée Kirps presented the first copy of a new guide to preventing documentary heritage theft, developed by EGATTT, to Tiziano Coiro of INTERPOL’s Works of Art Unit. The exchange reinforced the powerful alliance between heritage professionals and global law enforcement agencies in combating crime and protecting fragile cultural assets.
Three expert panels followed, exploring legislation, provenance research, security protocols, technology, and the central role of communication and public awareness. Speakers from INTERPOL, academic institutions, national archives, the rare book trade, and law enforcement underscored the need for vigilance, data sharing, and international cooperation. The session brought to the fore a powerful message, that safeguarding cultural memory is an inclusive and global responsibility, and that shared knowledge remains one of the most effective tools against loss and erasure.
Later in the afternoon, across the city at the Natural Science Museum of Barcelona, bursary recipients from underrepresented regions gathered for the workshop titled “Memory Under Threat: Preserving Heritage in the Face of Conflict and the Digital Age.” Earlier in June, ICA had launched a call for applications to support participants from Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries, and other vulnerable contexts, demonstrating its commitment to inclusivity, capacity building, and global knowledge sharing. Supported in partnership with UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, the workshop offered participants the opportunity to explore practical strategies for safeguarding cultural memory amid instability and digital transformation. It also fostered professional networks and strengthened participants’ dedication to resilience and community-led preservation, reflecting ICA’s ongoing role in empowering archivists worldwide.
In addition to this session, a diverse series of workshops was hosted each addressing key aspects of archival practice, innovation, and collaboration. One standout offering was the workshop titled “Come Play with RiC! A Card Game to Discover the Records in Contexts Conceptual Model (RiC-CM)” which introduced participants to the RiC conceptual model through an engaging card game format. Facilitated by members of ICA’s Expert Group on Archival Description (EGAD), the session welcomed attendees of all experience levels. After a brief theoretical introduction to RiC, participants worked collaboratively with a paper-based card game to explore a real archival scenario, mapping relationships between records, their creators, institutions of custody, and related events. The workshop concluded with a demonstration of how the resulting RiC–CM graphs could be translated into linked open data using the RiC ontology (RiC–O), offering a practical and interactive approach to understanding emerging archival standards.
The day came to a close in a setting befitting the spirit of the Congress, a warm and festive welcome cocktail, complete with music, cuisine, and views of Barcelona’s storied waterfront. Delegates from every corner of the world met and mingled, marking the beginning of a week rich in conversation, cooperation, and shared vision. The evening opened with heartfelt words of welcome and inspiration from ICA President Josée Kirps, followed by expressions of pride and solidarity from the local partners. They emphasized that archival work is not only about preserving documents, but also about investing in people, memory, and the future. Their reflections underscored the importance of local engagement in global conversations and reinforced the spirit of collaboration that would shape the Congress. Together, their messages set a hopeful tone for the days ahead, one defined by ambitious goals, shared responsibility, and a deep commitment to connecting communities through archives.
This day offered just a glimpse of the many events, sessions, and activities that took place during 27 October at ICA Barcelona 2025. A full overview of everything that happened can be explored in the official programme.
