Archives and Records Council Wales (ARCW) was established in May 1995 as a representative body for institutions and organisations all over Wales involved with caring for archives.
The aims of ARCW are:
1. To influence policy on archives in Wales
2. To bring to the attention of the public, government or relevant institutions or organisations, matters of current concern in the field of archives in Wales
3. To provide a focus for collaborative projects in the field of archives in Wales
4. To bring together institutions and organisations involved with the administration of archives in Wales and to provide a forum for the regular exchange of views between them
ARCW also manages grant schemes to support the work of member services in preserving and providing access to archival resources. The Accreditation Support Grant Scheme supports the development and improvement of services in line with the requirements of the Archive Service Accreditation Scheme. Grant funding may support collection care, workforce development, or public access work. Specific funding is also provided through ‘Changing Cultures’ Community Engagement grants to help to widen access to archives within Communities First areas and other disadvantaged communities across Wales. These grant schemes are funded by the Welsh Government.
The annual ARCW Forum, held every November provides an opportunity for staff from archive services across Wales to meet, hear about and discuss all kinds of matters relevant to their future work.