The University of Stirling Archives and Glasgow School of Art recently undertook a number of projects in collaboration with artists, designers and galleries to create new work inspired by the study of their collections, bringing their archives to new audiences. These collaborations provided an insight into the art and design world's attitude to archives. The discussions held and decisions made highlighted the tensions often present between archival methods and creative choices and highlighted the visual, aesthetic beauty of archives, something the profession often overlooks, preoccupied with the evidential value of the material we manage. This article looks at the issues raised by these often fretful, but always fruitful collaborations.