BISA 2027: Sound Archives - the old and the new
Call for Papers
British and Irish Sound Archives (BISA) invites proposals for presentations at this year’s BISA conference, which will be held at the British Library, London, on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 May 2027.
The two-day conference will feature presentations, practical sessions and collaborative discussions, as well as the BISA Annual General Meeting. We welcome proposals for papers on any aspect of working in the sound heritage field - practical, theoretical, and reflective. We’re interested in hearing from archivists, engineers, researchers, and creative practitioners.
Sound archives play a role in straddling “the old and new”, our theme for the 2027 conference. While archives and sound recordings themselves represent both old and new, our archives are also constantly adapting to technological and social developments, preserving both the analogue and digital, collecting from the past and the present, sharing with new and existing audiences.
We’re particularly interested in proposals looking at the continuing challenge of collecting. preserving and sharing analogue and digital recordings, at a time of rapid technological change (including the growth of AI) the digital proliferation of sound recordings, and urgency of addressing issues of environmental sustainability.
We anticipate the programme will include 20-minute papers, discussions, and workshops, but are open to alternative proposals.
Facilities at the venue will include a single screen for powerpoint presentations, and a stereo audio/audiovisual playback option.
Please send a description of the presentation you propose, in no more than 300 words, to british.irish.sound.archive@gmail.com by 5pm on Friday 11 December 2026. Proposals will be reviewed in January, and successful applicants contacted shortly thereafter.