AI, austerity, and authoritarianism: contemporary challenges in digital curation - the theme of this year’s conference recognises the effect contemporary forces are having on digital curation practices. We invite consideration on how these forces affect the work of the digital curation community and steps we take to stay resilient. We are interested in risks, opportunities and challenges from Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in producing data for curation, supporting curation processes, and reusing curated data; from limited or reduced funding available for digital curation actions; and in acts of hostility from governments or corporations to the integrity, preservation, long-term access, and reuse of data. While recognising the financial and political challenges the contemporary environment presents, the call is also open to optimism through examples of resilience and resistance in digital curation activities to sustain momentum in open scholarship and promote social change.