About ACURIL 2025 Curaçao
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As Conference Coordinator, and together with my team, I extend a warm greeting and a heartfelt welcome to the 54th Annual ACURIL Conference, to be held from June 8–12, 2025, on our beautiful island of Curaçao, under the leadership of our President, Ms. Lianne Leonora. This year’s theme — Digital Humanities: Connecting the Caribbean (communities) through Archives, Museums, and Libraries — highlights the transformative power of technology and collaboration in preserving and sharing our stories, identities, and knowledge. It is an invitation to explore how our memory institutions can harness digital tools to strengthen bonds across communities and amplify Caribbean heritage on a global stage. From the Local Organizing Committee, we hope this Conference will serve as a space for inspiration, learning, and joint action. We trust that each participant will find opportunities to connect, share best practices, and build new partnerships that contribute to the cultural, educational, and social development of our region. It is truly an honor to host this Conference in Curaçao. May your time here be as enriching as it is enjoyable, and may you take home unforgettable memories of this collective experience. On behalf of all members of the Local Organizing Committee, Ms. Yiannitzah Jacobus |
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The conference logo
About the logo:
The logo encapsulates keywords such as digitization, accessibility, cooperation,The lines and points that symbolize the connection between all stakeholders. The inclusion of an arrow signifies positivity and progress, while the binary code represents data and computer instructions, with simplified books and archives depicted in the bottom of the design.
About the colors:
1. Blue conveys trust, honesty, and reliability. It exudes a sense of calm and dependability, making it a universally reassuring color.
- 2. Aqua embodies the essence of coolness and infinite possibilities. Often associated with the Caribbean, it reflects the hues of the sky and ocean, symbolizing truth, purity, and serenity. Aqua also carries a sense of meaning, sophistication, and formality.
- 3. Orange represents enthusiasm, happiness, and creativity. It evokes a sense of cooperation, determination, and warmth, while its vibrant energy naturally attracts attention.
Digital Humanities: Connecting the Caribbean through Archives, Museums, and Libraries
The Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL) is excited to announce its 54th Conference to be held from June 8 - 12, 2025, in Curaçao. The conference theme is Digital Humanities: Connecting the Caribbean through Archives, Museums, and Libraries.
Through dynamic presentations, poster sessions, workshops, and the exhibitors fair, the ACURIL 2025 Conference aims to examine and discuss the current challenges of libraries in the Caribbean, discover and debate the new trends in the information world, and explore the human and material potential of our libraries, museums and archives. Likewise, it seeks to identify the necessary changes to help boost libraries towards proactive actions that will allow them to incorporate new roles and respond to the needs that society demands without losing the essence that has always characterized them.
SUBTHEMES ACURIL 2025 CURAÇAO CONFERENCE:
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1. Digital Preservation, Identity, and the Decolonization of Caribbean Heritage
A. Digital Preservation in the Caribbean Context:
Explore techniques for safeguarding Caribbean cultural assets, addressing challenges like fragile materials, limited resources, and tropical environmental conditions.
- B. Caribbean Identity in Digital Humanities:
Highlight the region's diverse cultures and histories through digital storytelling, amplifying underrepresented voices, and tackling post-colonial narratives. - C. Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Digital Archives:
Celebrate the Caribbean's linguistic richness by digitizing indigenous, Creole, and multilingual materials while ensuring accessibility and inclusivity. - D. Legal and Ethical Frameworks in Digital Humanities:
Examine the ethical implications of digitizing colonial records and indigenous knowledge, and navigate intellectual property and decolonization practices.
2. Innovative Technologies, Public Engagement and Emerging Trends
A. Innovative Technologies in Archives, Museums, and Libraries:
Leverage cutting-edge tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and blockchain to enhance preservation, access, and storytelling.
- B. Engaging the Public Through Digital Humanities:
Empower communities with participatory projects, digital literacy skills and social media to foster broader involvement and awareness of Caribbean heritage. - C. Emerging Trends and Future Directions in Digital Humanities:
Anticipate the impact of Web 3.0, AI, and other technologies on Caribbean cultural institutions while exploring new methods of audience engagement and historical exploration.
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3. Collaboration, Education, and Capacity Building
A. Collaboration and Networking Across Institutions:
Promote cross-border and cross-sector partnerships to strengthen Caribbean archives, museums, and libraries through shared resources and collective efforts.
- B. Digital Humanities and Pedagogy:
Integrate digital tools into educational curricula, train professionals, and support lifelong learning to bridge generational and technological gaps.
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4. Sustainability, Resilience, and Funding in the Digital Era
A. Sustainability and Resilience in Digital Humanities:
- Address the challenges posed by climate change, resource constraints, and disaster preparedness to ensure long-term viability of digital projects.
- B. Funding and Resource Mobilization for Digital Projects:
- Explore innovative approaches to secure funding, including grants, crowdfunding, and collaborations, to support the region’s digital humanities initiatives.
