The International Council on Archives took a decision at its 39 International Conference of the Round Table on Archives (CITRA) resolved that countries should celebrate Archives Week Annually in their respective countries. The aim of the event is to popularise the profession and get to engage communities around the importance of archives in the preservation of societal memory. South Africa celebrates Archives Week during the 2nd week of May annually with the aim to promotes the importance of good record keeping practices and allows members of the public access to archival buildings for them to witness archival functions and services.

South Africa hosted Archives Awareness Week since 2004. The programme has yielded the desired results as Provincial Archives have participated including those who had not inherited archival buildings. The event has shown to be a successful public programming initiative in that it has attracted a range of participants from members of the public, learners, researchers and other parties with interest.

During the Annual Archives Awareness Week, transport is organised for schools from previously disadvantaged communities to ferry from various schools around Pretoria to the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa to participate in the event. They attend different presentations and are given an opportunity to tour the Archives building  and engage on exhibitions displayed. A film is screened in the evening of the last day of the event.

GALLERY