ABSTRACT
DIY institutions are much more than simply cultural institutions; they are also social and affective institutions, where the notion of a "living archive", an idea expressed by many volunteers in these places, takes on a particular kind of meaning. This chapter considers some of the motivations of volunteers who contribute their labor to community-based archives, museums and halls of fame. It then moves on to a consideration of these places as social institutions before ending with an examination of the affective atmosphere fostered in these spaces and, in particular, one aspect of the affective function of DIY institutions – caring for others. It is interesting to think about DIY institutions through the lens of artists because these are people multiply connected to the artifacts on display in these places. The chapter, therefore, considers the more personal side of volunteering in which the DIY institution becomes a place "for living".
