Archives are the documentary by-product of human activity retained for their long-term value.
They are contemporary records created by individuals and organisations as they go about their business and therefore provide a direct window on past events.
Being an archivist or record keeper is a fascinating role. There are not many jobs where it can be said that what you do today will matter hundreds of years from now.
An archivist or record keeper needs a passion for history, an eye for detail and a strong commitment to service. The return is to be a custodian of society's memory.
Archives are witnesses to the past. They provide evidence, explanation and justification both for past actions and current decisions.
The International Council on Archives (ICA) is created on 9 June 1948 , now celebrated as International Archives Day ...
The mission of the International Council on Archives (ICA) is to promote the preservation and use of archives around the world. In pursuing this mission, ICA works for the protection and enhancement of the memory of the world and to improve communication while respecting cultural diversity ...
UNESCO/PERSIST
Universal Declaration on Archives
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ICA Highlights
ICA’s Fund for the International Development of Archives (FIDA) provides assistance to archive professionals and institutions working in especially challenging conditions, usually in developing countries.
ICA Leadership General Assembly - AGA Executive Board - EB Programme Commission - PCOM Evaluation Commission - ECOM Forum of National Archivists - FAN Forum of Professional Associations - FPA Professional Sections Coordination FIDA
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Strategic Strands
EGABE - Archive Buildings and Environments EG EMDP - Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness PAAG - Photographic and Audiovisual Archives AEG - Expert Group on Advocacy EGAD - Archival Description EGLM - Legal Matters EGRSO - Research Services and Outreach EGSAH - Shared Archival Heritage EG MDPR - Digital and Physical Records EGATTT - Theft, Trafficking and Tampering EGIM - Indigenous Matters
In 2012 the ICA's Programme Commission made Africa a priority area for its professional programme work to support the development of record-keeping capacity in Africa, the needs of African archivists and records managers, ICA strategic objectives and priorities, and the delivery of archival education.
One of the ICA's Objectives is to build capacity within the archive profession. A fundamental element of this capacity building is to support Young and New Professionals to develop their professional knowledge and to encourage them to participate in all that the ICA has to offer.
ICA’s Training Programme was established in May 2017 at the Programme Commission meeting in Arusha, Tanzania. It aims to provide ICA members with high quality training opportunities across the full scope of archive and recordkeeping competencies via a range of delivery methods including online learning, ...
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REGISTER for the Conference (26-28 Nov) APPLY for the Digital Recordkeeping Training (29-30 Nov) CONSULT the Conference Programme ACCESS Practical Information to travel to Cameroon
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ICA Conference Rome 2022 ICA Virtual Conference 2021
ICA Conference Adelaide 2019 ICA Conference Yaoundé 2018
ALA-ICA Conference Mexico 2017 ICA Conference Reykjavik 2015
ICA Conference Girona 2014 ICA Conference Brussels 2013
ICA Congress Barcelona 2025
ICA Congress Abu Dhabi 2023
ICA Congress Seoul 2016
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Personalize your IAW2019 Communication Kit Search the International Archives Week Programme Publish you event in the Programme Write for the ICA Blog Challenge Social Media #IAW2019
International Archives Week 2022 International Archives Week 2021
International Archives Week 2020 International Archives Week 2019
International Archives Day 2018 International Archives Day 2017
International Archives Day 2016
Appraisal of records Archival arrangement and description Audio-visual and photographic archives management Awareness raising and advocacy for records and archives Digital records and archives management Ethics Legal Issues Maintaining Professional Standards and Related Professions Outreach, access and learning services Preserving archives Records management
ALA - Asociación Latinoamericana de Archivos ARBICA - Arab Regional Branch CARBICA - Caribbean Regional Branch CENARBICA - Central Africa Regional Branch EASTICA - East Asian Regional Branch ESARBICA - Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Branch EURASICA - Eurasia Regional Branch EURBICA - European Regional Branch NAANICA - North American Archival Network PARBICA - Pacific Regional Branch SARBICA - Southeast Asian Regional Branch SWARBICA - South and West Asian Regional Branch WARBICA - West African Regional Branch
SAE - Section for Education and Training SAFT - Section for Archives of Faith Traditions SAHR - Section on Archives and Human Rights SAR - Section on Architectural Archives SBA - Section on Business Archives SIO - Section on International Organisations SLA - Litterary and Artistic Archives SLMT - Section on Local, Municipal and Territorial Archives SPA - Section of Professional Associations SPO - Section on Sport Archives SPP - Section for Archives of Parliaments and Political Parties SUV - Section on University Archives
- Would you like to do something worthwhile with your time and boost your professional knowledge and contacts? - Why not become an ICA volunteer? - Volunteers are a vital element in the ICA's work.
They disseminate knowledge both within the ICA community and to the wider world, and they drive some of the Council's key membership bodies. They contribute to raise the professional and scientific profile of ICA.
Partnerships are fundamental to ICA's work because ICA fullfills its aims through collaboration.
By making a donation to FIDA, you will be:
- helping to protect the world’s archival heritage
- supporting and encouraging the use and development of archival collections
- fostering international links between potential partners
- simplifying archival access around the world
- funding administrative and professional training in archiving specialities
- raising your profile as a contributor to democracy
- contributing to raising awareness of the importance of archives around the world
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