6 min readThe Archives and Records Association (ARA) is the professional membership organisation for Archivists, Records Managers and Archive Conservators in the UK and Ireland, and those working internationally. As the unified voice of the record-keeping sector, ARA champions the importance of archives and records in society. ARA promote the highest professional standards through professional registration and continuing professional development. ARA was established on 1 June 2010 through the merger of The National Council on Archives, the Association of Chief Archivists in Local Government and the Society of Archivists. The ARA membership consists of over 2000 individuals and organisations representing professionals working across the public, private, educational and charitable sectors.
The Event: ARA Annual Conference 2025
The Archives and Records Association's first ever hybrid Conference was held in Bristol between 27 and 29 August 2025. The conference theme was ‘Next Generation: Innovation and Imagination in Record Keeping' . The conference invited the sector to reflect on past achievements, confront challenges, and explore new approaches shaped by sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion. With a focus on innovation, professional curiosity, and candid discussion, delegates shared how their organisations are addressing the future of recordkeeping—turning risks into opportunities, making collections shine, and shaping a vibrant, resilient sector for the next generation.
Image - The Archives and Records Association, Simon O’ Connor
Who was in attendance?
Professionals from across the record-keeping sector (Record Managers, Conservators, Archivists, digital preservation specialists) as well as academics, researchers and people with an interest in record-keeping. There was a total of 314 in-person registrations plus 40 virtual registrations.
Image - The Archives and Records Association, Simon O’ Connor
Why Bristol?
Bristol is in a central location with good transport links. Bristol offered a suitable venue in a beautiful city with many opportunities for our delegates to explore outside of the conference.
Main venue - Delta Hotels by Marriott Bristol City Centre
Supper & Social venue - We The Curious
Image - The Archives and Records Association, Simon O’ Connor
What were the highlights?
Across the 3 conference days, delegates had the opportunity to attend three keynote presentations and a total of 37 parallel sessions. The established format of this annual event includes informal drinks on the night before the conference opens, a medium-sized exhibition, a gala dinner with awards and an informal ‘supper & social’ evening for the over 300 delegates who join us. A highlight of the programme, reflected in the feedback, was our opening keynote from Julz Davis from Curiosity Unltd, a Bristol-based grassroots think and do tank for positive social change.
One standout was the ‘Supper & Social’ evening at We The Curious. This setting encouraged playful interaction and sparked genuine connections, an ideal environment for breaking the ice and building community.
ARA champions accessibility, equality, diversity, and inclusion - at the 2025 conference, we implemented a range of practical and thoughtful measures to support all delegates, including: flexible seating layouts in the main plenary to suit different comfort needs; clear, inclusive signage throughout the venue; a dedicated quiet room for downtime; and inclusive catering, co-designed with the venue to create a menu that accommodated a wide range of dietary needs without separate options, ensuring no one felt ‘othered’ by their choices.
In collaboration with the appointed Professional Conference Organiser (PCO), Opening Doors & Venues, and AV partner, Glenton Media, we helped introduce SpeakSee, a cutting-edge translation and live subtitling technology that provided real-time support for deaf and hard-of-hearing delegates, as well as translation for those for whom English wasn’t their first language. This marked a first for the ARA conference and proved to be a game-changer for accessibility, receiving great delegate feedback.
Local suppliers were prioritised throughout: transport was arranged via a local public bus company, offering more flexible and sustainable options than traditional coach hire; local caterers featured in off-site events, and delegates were treated to a signature sponsored ice cream break, sourced from a regenerative farm just miles from the venue, where free-roaming cows supply the milk. Small touch with a big impact!
Image - The Archives and Records Association, Simon O’ Connor
Top recommendations from ARA for planners thinking of holding their event in Bristol?
We The Curious is a great venue for an informal function and works brilliantly to engage delegates and create a relaxing background for exploring exhibits and creating connections amongst delegates.
Hiring public buses is a very efficient solution for transfers within the city – very good value, quick and quirky (particularly for international delegates who may have never experienced a double-decker bus before!)
Image - The Archives and Records Association, Simon O’ Connor
Leaving a positive impact on the city
The conference committee were keen from the start to ensure that the conference would be a positive experience for all, including Bristol itself. Local caterers and suppliers were prioritised in the planning process and subsequently awarded contracts for the conference itself, which enabled the business to stay within the city.
Public transport was encouraged, with the majority of delegates arriving by train.
Using VisitBritain's Business Events Delegate Survey (May 2025) we calculate that the ARA 2025 conference generated approximately £148k worth of local economic impact for Bristol over its three days.
Local connections extended beyond suppliers and caterers to the conference’s intellectual and cultural programme. The opening keynote was delivered by Bristol-born Creativist Julz Davis of Curiosity Ultd, a grassroots think-and-do tank dedicated to positive social change. By challenging ARA delegates to “poke, prod and radically reframe the way we keep, share and shape our collective histories,” Julz brought a powerful local perspective to a national audience. The keynote not only enriched delegate experience through fresh, provocative thinking but also showcased Bristol’s long-standing legacy of social disruption and innovation, reinforcing the city’s role as a hub for progressive ideas and meaningful change.
Our ARA South West group also produced a handy guide to some of Bristol’s other attractions and recommendations for local restaurants and pubs.
All photo credits: Simon O’ Connor for ARA
