Title: The Risks and Resilience of Archival Research: Black Life and Lessons in Archives
Speaker: Francesca Sobande (Cardiff University)
Date & Time: Wednesday, 10 December 2025, 3:00 -5:00PM
Location: Avenue 65 / Room 1175 (L/T C)
Session Overview:
Archives can be engaged in ways that involve a particular pace or tempo: choosing to spend hours reading through one short text or studying a few images – carefully sensing their subtleties and finding your groove with note-making. In some cases, time slows. In others, it flies.
This session explores these aspects of experiencing archives while considering dynamics between neurodivergence, associative thinking, asynchronous communication, and research practices. It focuses on archiving Black people’s experiences of music and subcultures, while addressing broader questions about the risks and resilience of archival research.
Reflecting on Black life and lessons in archives such as the DC Punk Archive (Washington DC and online) and the Museum of Youth Culture’s Archives (London and online), this session foregrounds the relationship between archiving and the creative work of Black people “on the beat” as musicians, photographers, writers, and more.
Additional Resource:
Francesca suggests that any attendees who are happy to check it out read this free zine that she wrote:
Black Life in / and “Alt” Music Subcultures: https://issuu.com/blackoothere/docs/black_people_in_alt_music_subcultures_by_frances
Printed copies may also be available at the session, and Francesca will try to incorporate discussion of creative methods during the talk.
Why Attend?
- Gain insights into archival research methods and challenges.
- Explore intersections of culture, creativity, and research practice.
- Engage in thought-provoking discussion with peers and experts.
Please fill in Dr Francesca Sobande ‘Resilience and crisis management in English local government’ – Fill ou… to confirm attendance – so we can gauge attendance for the event.
Refreshments will be provided 😊 This is also reflected in the PIRS Calendar on SharePoint 
We look forward to seeing you there!