The Norman Foster Foundation (NFF) presents the ‘On Archives’ Masterclass Series, a series which explores the fundamental aspects related to architectural archives and libraries around the world. Given by fourteen leading experts in the fields of archiving, architecture, art, design and heritage management, this video series supports the NFF’s extensive educational programme by promoting an exchange of knowledge across a range of geographic and disciplinary perspectives.

While archives have, for centuries, been the core of cultural, historic and artistic institutions, these online lessons also acknowledge the relevance of archives for the performance of other disciplines, such as architecture and design, and for the future of society. From the Canadian Centre of Architecture (CCA) to the Vatican Museums, speakers will touch on key themes such as the materiality of archives, the concept of interarchive, the challenges of digitising archive materials, new preservation methods based on a dynamic order and how to manage special collections, among other topics.

In addition to an introductory masterclass given by Norman Foster (President, Norman Foster Foundation, Madrid, Spain / London, UK / New York, USA), in which he considers the important role that archives play in anticipating the future, contributing speakers include the following experts:

Giovanna Borasi, Director, Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA), Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Sol Camacho, Director, Instituto Lina Bo e P.M. Bardi – Casa de Vidro, São Paulo, Brazil. Estrella de Diego, Academician, Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Madrid, Spain. Michelle Elligott, Chief of Archives, Library and Research Collections, MoMA, New York, NY, United States of America. Patricia Hartmann, Director, Sitterwerk Foundation, St. Gallen, Switzerland. Charles Hind, Chief Curator & HJ. Heinz Head of Drawings, British Architectural Library, RIBA, London, United Kingdom. Barbara Jatta, Director, Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Italy. Valerie Maasburg, Director, Bookshop and Artist’s Books Collection, Ivorypress, Madrid, Spain. Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director, Serpentine Galleries, London, United Kingdom. Mar Perez Morillo, Head of Division of Digital Processes and Services, Biblioteca Nacional de España, Madrid, Spain. Marcia Reed, Chief Curator, Associate Director and Head of Special Collections and Exhibitions, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America. Mathias Schwartz-Clauss, Director, Domaine de Boisbuchet, Lessac, France. Bill Sherman, Director, The Warburg Institute, London, United Kingdom.

As part of the NFF’s upcoming digital initiatives, the ‘On Archives’ Masterclass Series will be soon followed by the release of the ‘Future Cities’ Conversation Series, a virtual dialogue series in which Norman Foster will reflect on the future of cities alongside ten leading voices and visionaries, as well as the release of the ‘On Archives’ Conversation Series, another virtual dialogue conducted by academician Estrella de Diego and art curator Hans Ulrich Obrist on the most compelling issues related to archives and libraries.

The masterclasses included in this series are part of the Norman Foster Foundation’s Education + Research Programme and have been developed thanks to the research fellowships supported by BYD, Crankstart Foundation, David and Nina Fialkow, Ford Foundation, Lisa and Richard Cashin and the Rolex Institute.

Available to watch on Youtube.