In April 2014 the ICA Executive Board, meeting in Paris, empowered the Elected Officers to determine the venue of the 2015 Annual Conference before the Girona Conference in October. In July the Elected Officers agreed, with considerable enthusiasm, to accept the bid from the National Archives of Iceland to host the Annual Conference in Reykjavik between 27 and 29 September 2015. At the same time they noted ICA’s recent efforts to organize Annual Conferences outside Europe and reaffirmed ICA’s commitment hold an Annual Conference in Africa soon, probably in 2018.
The Elected Officers took into account the distinguished track record of the National Archives of Iceland in successfully hosting ICA events, most notably the CITRA in September 2001 and the Executive Board in March 2007. Iceland has demonstrated an ability to understand the essential requirements for hosting an ICA Annual Conference very quickly, an important consideration when time is quite short. The Elected Officers were impressed by the energy and initiative shown by Eirikur Gudmundsson, the National Archivist, who has built up the local organization, enlisted the help of a highly experienced Professional Conference Organizer, and obtained high-level political support, all with amazing speed. There is clearly a strong infrastructure to support conferences in Reykjavik as well as good air transport links from Europe and North America. The country has a rich historical and archival tradition, and there will be an opportunity for participants to appreciate the country’s great scenic beauty.
PCOM AND EB MEETINGS IN SPRING 2015 IN BALI
At the same time the Elected Officers accepted an invitation from the National Archives of Indonesia to hold the first meeting of the Programme Commission and the Executive Board next year in Bali, from 26 to 30 April 2015. This will be the first time that ICA governance bodies will meet outside Europe since the Brisbane Congress in August 2012.
Eirikur Gudmundsson,
National Archivist, Iceland