Ann Chow (The National Archives)

Archivists and art librarians are well versed in developing activities and projects which may consist of pedagogical elements such as using archives and library material in object-based learning activities and engaging artists and creative practitioners with archives. But what does framing the uses of archive as creative activity really mean for the way we work? This question has the opportunity to be expanded from the initial blog post I wrote on the ‘Possibilities of Archives’ for Storying the Past but looking at the extent to which creativity exists or could be formulised in our profession. Can we, like the creative practitioners we engage with, be truly creative  –  and if so, what could this look like? Does this introduce possibilities or challenges  – and if the latter, are there any workarounds? Taking an interdisciplinary approach, with intersections from archive theory, education, history and visual arts, this paper will outline and critically reflect on how perhaps shifting our perceptions may be beneficial not only to our profession but also to the wider arts communities who engage with art archives and libraries.

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Ann Chow works as a Record Specialist within the Design, Photographs and Arts Collections Team in the Collections, Expertise and Engagement Department at The National Archives. Her research interests include nineteenth-century photograph albums and mid-century art and design. She is also interested in artists’ and creative practitioners’ use(s) of archives in their practice. She gives talks in her subject/ record specialism(s), develops and delivers a variety of archival and creative workshops to engage with the public and academic communities and develops projects to broaden the use of art-related collections at The National Archives. Her chapter ‘Inspiration Drawn: Conversations around Archives’, in Collective and Collaborative Drawing in Contemporary practice: Drawing Conversations (edited by J Journeaux and H Gorrill) analyses archives and artists as forms of collaborations, and was published in December 2017.