You will explore the potential offered by archives for the creative practitioner. The course is workshop-based, and you will learn through ongoing investigation and ideation. Individual task-based learning is complemented by class discussion, group work and in-class exercises. While several archives we examine are publicly available online, the course also includes exciting field trips to significant archival collections with more restricted access.

Together, we will reflect on the changes in archive access as a result of digitisation and critically engage with what this means for access to stories relevant to culture and society.

Indicative content may include:

• Introduction to the Archive
• How to navigate digitised archives in Ireland and abroad
• Navigating archival collections emerging from (for example) newspapers, census, military, film, folklore, and wider history and heritage collections
• Discovering the context for using an archive
• Evaluating the narrative value of archival documents
• Researching a narrative project through archival sources
• Designing a narrative fieldwork project
• Use recording technology to conduct an ethnographic interview
• Cross-referencing and checking sources
• Combining sources – archive; historical; contemporary
• Finding the story in the archives – case studies
• Developing narrative skills
• Scripting and visualising the story
• Producing original pieces of work
• Writing a proposal, a pitch and a treatment
• Copyright and legal issues

This course embraces continuous assessment, beginning with a Narrative Proposal Pitch, followed by a Treatment, and culminating in an Archive Project & Analysis.

Course work submission deadline: 7th May 2027.

Classes take place on Fridays (10am – 4pm), mostly in person, including field trips.

• 22nd and 29th January 2027
• 5th, 12th and 19th February
• 5th, 12th and 19th March
• 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th April

Please complete the online application form at the top of the page.

As part of the application, you will be required to provide a CV with details of:

• Education / Qualifications,
• Professional experience, and
• Creative work (e.g., a link to a portfolio website).

You can pursue our MA in Media Narratives. An exemption would be awarded on the Creative Use of Archives MA module to those who have successfully completed this certificate course.