Future Of Archives Open Call

Open to contributors interested in archives and archiving, Whose Archive is it Anyway? invites selected speakers to share real-life experiences at The Photographers’ Gallery in London, with a £200 speaker fee.

Overview

Whose Archive is it Anyway? is the first in a three-part series at The Photographers’ Gallery examining the future of archives and archiving. The one-day event asks what makes an archive today, who creates and defines it, who has access to it, and who has the authority to tell the stories it contains. The open call seeks contributions based on real-life experiences rather than academic papers. Proposals can address subjects including family and institutional archives, forgotten histories, ownership, counter archives, artists’ legacies, digital preservation, and alternative ways of collecting and safeguarding stories and memories.

Practical Info

The call is open to anyone aged 18 or over, particularly those with experience working with archives and the stories within them. Applicants must be available to attend The Photographers’ Gallery in London on 16 April 2027 and speak at the event. Selected speakers will receive a fee of £200. Applications close on 1 November 2026 at 11:59pm BST, with selected speakers notified by 18 January 2027.

About The Photographers’ Gallery

The Photographers’ Gallery is a photography gallery in central London dedicated to exploring photography and its role in contemporary culture and society. Located in Soho, it brings together artists, students, professionals, and wider audiences through exhibitions, events, and programmes centred on photography and visual culture.