Archives are more than places where records are kept. They make research, remembrance and democratic debate possible. Tell us why archives matter to you.
Share your testimony →Deep cuts are being made to the professional management of historical archives in Flanders and Belgium. By halving operating subsidies, the Flemish Government threatens the continuity of institutions that have preserved and made accessible the archives of associations, political parties, artists, writers and other social actors for decades. The State Archives in Belgium have also faced structural underfunding for years.
Born-digital archives are particularly vulnerable. The affected cultural archives help associations and individuals preserve emails, websites, social media and other digital documents for the long term. The cuts threaten the loss of vital expertise. The preservation of digital government records is also under pressure.
All this may seem abstract. That is why this website collects testimonies about the value of archives for research, remembrance, culture and democratic debate. Everyone is invited to explain why archives matter.
These testimonies, too, are intended to be preserved as a digital archive for future generations.
This website is a joint initiative of the affected Flemish archival institutions, following their open letter to Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez.
Those who do not know history are condemned to repeat it, as the philosopher George Santayana is often paraphrased.
Whoever controls the archives controls the narrative of the past.
Nog geen getuigenissen. Wees de eerste om er een te delen.
Briefly describe what archives mean to you, your work or society. Your contribution will be public immediately after submission.