SEAPAVAA Conference 2026

The 30th SEAPAVAA Conference was held from 7th to 11th June 2026 at the Casuarina Hotel in Ipoh, Malaysia. Hosted by the National Archives of Malaysia, the conference brought together archivists, researchers, and heritage professionals from across Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The theme for this year's conference, "Redefining Audio-Visual Archives: Relevancy, Technology and Unity," reflected the evolving role of archives in an increasingly digital world and highlighted the importance of collaboration, technological innovation, and accessibility in archival practice.

Over the course of four days, participants engaged in a series of presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and symposiums that explored contemporary issues in audio-visual archiving. Archivists representing institutions of varying scales shared their experiences, methodologies, and observations, providing valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing archives in different regional contexts. A significant focus of this year's conference was the growing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into archival workflows. Several institutions presented their ongoing experiments and successful applications of AI technologies, particularly in the areas of transcription, translation, metadata generation, and digital asset management. These developments demonstrated how AI had considerably improved the efficiency, accessibility, and scalability of archival processes.

Donskobar Junisha Khongwir attended the conference as the representative of the Northeast India AV Archive. On 9th June 2026, she presented a paper entitled "Archive as Resistance: The Work of the Northeast India AV Archive." The presentation highlighted the archive's commitment to documenting and preserving the diverse histories, cultures, and audio-visual heritage of Northeast India. It also examined how community-based archival practices could serve as acts of cultural resistance by safeguarding marginalized histories and amplifying voices that had often remained underrepresented within mainstream historical narratives. The presentation generated meaningful discussions among participants regarding the role of archives in preserving cultural identity and fostering inclusive historical representation.

As part of the conference programme, Junisha also participated in the workshop "Duct Tape and Downloads: Digital Preservation on a Budget," conducted by Gaia Resources, a technology consultancy based in Perth, Australia. The workshop provided practical training on affordable and sustainable approaches to digital audio-visual preservation. Participants were introduced to essential preservation workflows, including selecting appropriate preservation tools, conducting pre-preservation file assessments, identifying and validating file formats, transcoding audio and video files, packaging digital collections, implementing storage solutions, performing fixity checks, and ensuring long-term digital stewardship. The workshop also addressed the environmental impact of digital preservation and explored emerging trends that would influence future archival practices.

Gaia Resources shared its extensive experience working with archives, museums, galleries, libraries, and other cultural heritage institutions across Australia and New Zealand. Their expertise in developing sustainable technological solutions for the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM) sector demonstrated practical approaches to managing diverse collections, including archival records, artworks, library holdings, and scientific specimens. The workshop proved particularly valuable in introducing cost-effective digital preservation strategies that could be adapted by institutions with limited financial and technical resources.

In addition to attending the conference sessions and workshop, Junisha represented the Northeast India AV Archive during the SEAPAVAA General Assembly. As the Northeast India AV Archive was an Associate Institutional Member of SEAPAVAA, she participated in the Assembly's proceedings and exercised the archive's voting rights on matters concerning the organisation's governance and future direction. This participation further strengthened the archive's engagement with the regional network of audio-visual archives and reinforced its commitment to collaborative initiatives within the Asia-Pacific archival community.

The conference also included a field visit to Lenggong Valley and the Perak Man Museum in Malaysia. The excursion provided participants with an opportunity to observe how archaeological heritage, museums, tourism, and archival interpretation could be successfully integrated. The visit demonstrated how heritage institutions could simultaneously prioritise preservation, conservation, public engagement, and cultural tourism. It showcased innovative approaches to interpreting archival and archaeological materials while making them accessible and meaningful to wider audiences. The experience highlighted the importance of not only safeguarding cultural heritage but also celebrating and disseminating it in ways that strengthened public understanding of a nation's unique history and identity.

Overall, the 30th SEAPAVAA Conference provided an enriching platform for professional exchange, capacity building, and regional collaboration. The conference reinforced the growing importance of technological innovation, particularly Artificial Intelligence, in transforming archival practice while emphasizing that community engagement and cultural preservation remained central to the mission of archives. The knowledge gained through the conference sessions, workshop, General Assembly, and field visit will significantly contribute to strengthening the work of the Northeast India AV Archive and inform future initiatives in digital preservation, community archiving, and regional collaboration.