mac2019detroit

As the preservation of cultural artifacts gains greater public attention, many community groups have sought consultation or partnership with archival institutions. Community participation in archival collecting has positive potential to transform collecting initiatives through the inclusion of materials from previously underrepresented groups.  Many of these groups, however, may not be content to merely deposit their legacy at a known repository. Instead, they seek ongoing collaboration in the process of gathering materials or connecting archives to local people and places.
These intricate partnerships can also lead to areas of confusion. Potential donors from the community of interest may wonder: Who did I just donate my stuff to, the archives or the community group? Who controls my stuff, the active community or the archive? Community organizations/partners may wonder: What can this Archives institution do that we cant do? Why do we need them, and are they usurping our place or our voice in the community?
Panel members from different types of archival repositories and working with different communities will discuss their experiences balancing the expectations of complex constituencies and the best practices of their profession. They will share their strategies for educating community members about archival processes, sharing and communicating each groups priorities, asking for community input, facilitating creative productions by the community, and managing trickling accruals and third party (or DIY) digitization or grant participants. This panel is geared towards archivists engaged in donor relations, community relationship-building, and those who are looking to expand their collecting scope in collaborative ways.