#ExploreYourArchive focus week took place across the UK between 27th November - 7th December 2025.
For a bit of background info, the masterminds behind this annual national event, the Archives and Records Association UK and Ireland (ARA) @ARAUK_IE, invite all archives far and wide to join their exciting focus week. The goal? To spotlight fascinating histories, hidden treasures, and cultural heritage—and most importantly, to spread the word that archives are for everyone!
Each year, ARA rolls out daily themes for the week, sparking a creative challenge for archive teams. It’s a bit like a treasure hunt, but this year we decided to showcase 155 Years of De Montfort University history during an anniversary year. DMU Special Collections Manager, Katharine Short, explains it all below:
In this round-up blog post, you can watch our video shorts which hit social media on the day of the relevant themed hashtag at your leisure. Enjoy!
Explore Your Archive 2025 Day 1: #EYAConservation
Riffing on DMU's retro game–themed prospectus, we’re kicked off Explore Your Archive by showing how education and conservation power up the past. Hit play to enter the archive!
Explore Your Archive 2025 Day 2: #EYABeauty
Exploring the seven concepts of beauty in art in relation to DMU staff and student work.
Explore Your Archive 2025: Day 3: #EYAMedieval
Explore walking in the footsteps of Leicester's medieval history on DMU campus.
Explore Your Archive 2025 Day 4: #EYASilence
Expolore what silence really means in libraries and archives, from silent study to absent voices.
Explore Your Archive 2025 Day 5: #EYAPets
Wyvern and Lions! Oh My! Discover the heraldic "pets" associated with DMU.
Explore Your Archive 2025 Day 6: #EYADigital
Explore what analogue to digital means for staff and student work and how we share our collections.
Explore Your Archive Day 7: #EYAInclusion
Explore how DMU & Special Collections wants to make space for everyone's story.
Explore Your Archive Day 8: #Anniversaries
So how old is DMU? It's complicated... but's here's some key highlights spanning 155 years.
Explore Your Archive Day 9: #YourArchive
Explore your archive by visiting us soon.
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