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Uses of archives as creative activity: what does it mean to be creative within the archive and library profession?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2019

Ann Chow
Ann Chow*
Affiliation:
Records Specialist, Art Collections, The National Archives, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, TW9 4DU, UK Email: Ann.Chow@nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Abstract

Archivists and art librarians are well versed in developing activities and projects using archives and library materials in object-based learning activities and engaging artists and creative practitioners with archives and special collections. But what does framing the uses of archives as creative activity really mean for the way in which we work on a practical level? I expand this question from the initial blog post I wrote: Possibilities of archives (storyingthepast.wordpress.com). Can we, like the creative practitioners we engage with, be truly creative – and if so, what could this look like? It is a pertinent question because creativity, in part, enables us to progress and innovate as the archive and library sectors continue to evolve.

I take an interdisciplinary approach to developing workshops as demonstrative case studies, with intersections from archival theory, education, and the visual arts; I first outline what creativity could look like when developing Creative Workshops from within an archival context. I also outline and reflect on how being creative can be beneficial to our profession as well as to the wider arts communities who engage with art archives and special collections.

Type
Research Article
Information
Art Libraries Journal , Volume 44 , Issue 1 , January 2019 , pp. 13 - 18
Copyright
© ARLIS, 2019 

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Footnotes

This article is adapted from a paper delivered in July 2018 at the ARLIS/UK & Ireland Conference, at the Architectural Association, London.

References

1. Adam Begley, “Don DeLillo, The Art of Fiction No. 135,” The Paris Review, 1993. https://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/1887/don-delillo-the-art-of-fiction-no-135-don-delillo, accessed July 23 2018.

2. Such as Jan Carlin, “Artists’ Books as Catalysts of Social Change,” ARLIS UK & Ireland, Annual Conference, London 26-27 July 2018. https://arlislondon.wixsite.com/arlislondon2018, accessed 1 September 2018; Sara De Waay. “Altering Artists’ Book Instructions: Using Learning Objectives to Inspire Active Learning,” ARLIS UK & Ireland, Annual Conference, London 26–27 July 2018. https://arlislondon.wixsite.com/arlislondon2018, accessed 1 September 2018.

3. Pat Christie, “The ‘Art’ of Librarianship: Art and Design Librarianship as Creative Practice,” ARLIS UK & Ireland, Annual Conference, London 26–27 July 2018. https://arlislondon.wixsite.com/arlislondon2018, accessed 1 September 2018.

4. Will Pooley, “Ten Resolutions to Work More Creatively,” 2017. https://storyingthepast.wordpress.com/2017/10/11/ten-resolutions-to-work-more-creatively-by-will-pooley/, accessed 28 July 2018.

5. Ibid. See also Bristol University, “Creative Histories,” 19 July 2017. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/events/2017/july/creative-histories.html, accessed 14 July 2018.

6. Adam Begley, “Don DeLillo, The Art of Fiction No. 135,” The Paris Review, 1993.

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10. See for instance: Hannan, L., Duhs, R., and Chatterjee, H. J., “Object Based Learning: a powerful pedagogy for higher education” in Museums and Higher Education Working Together: Challenges and Opportunities, eds. Boddinton, Ann, Boys, Jos and Speight, Catherine (London: Routledge, 2013): 159–168Google Scholar;

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Chatterjee, Helen J., “Object-Based Learning in Higher Education: The pedagogical power of museums,” University Museums and Collections Journal, 3 (2010): 179–181Google Scholar. http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/umacj/2010/chatterjee-179/PDF/chatterjee.pdf;

Mahurter, Sarah, and Montero, Gustavo, eds. Reflections on Archives, Museums & Special Collections (London: University of Arts London. 2016)Google Scholar.

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12. The National Archives, “The National Archives Postgraduate Archival Skills Training”. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/our-research-and-academic-collaboration/events-and-training/postgraduate-archival-skills-training/, accessed 23 August 2018.

13. Ann Chow, “Pencils only: drawing our collection”. 25 August 2015. https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/pencils-drawing-collection/, accessed 2 September 2018.

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