Message from the President

Montreal, January 15, 2012

Dear colleagues,

First of all, allow me to extend my best wishes to you all for a 2012 filled with health, happiness and professional success. For that matter, it is the mission of AVICOM to help see that your expertise is recognized, so that it can be enriched and enrich that of others. That is the reason why it is so important you take part in AVICOM events, a number of which are already being organized. The aim of the Annual Conference and FIAMP 2012, which will be held in Montréal from October 9 to 12, is to showcase innovative practices in museums around the world. Your participation is therefore essential. Proposal submission forms for both presentations and audiovisual works are already available on-line on our new website. There you will find a clear outline of the topics we would like to see addressed, which are sure to reflect your own museum experiences. A preliminary programme will be posted on-line within the next few weeks, so you will soon know the names of those invited to make presentations. Be sure to join them in discussing the major changes the use of information technologies have brought about in museums’ day-to-day activities. I am looking forward to your proposals with enthusiasm.

 

FIAMP.2012

The time has also come to submit your audiovisual projects for consideration by FIAMP’s international jury, which will be meeting in Montréal in the spring. The winning productions will be announced publically during the three days of the Conference in October 2012. In conjunction with this, discussions are now underway with the Montréal multimedia design company Moment Factory, which will be responsible for the awards ceremony show. Moment Factory has a worldwide reputation for excellence in the design and staging of immersive, interactive environments, making the event, which on this occasion will be open to the public, a memorable one you will not want to miss. You should therefore reserve your seat now, as places will be limited.

 

Brazil 2013

The AVICOM office is already at work organizing the 2013 Annual Conference. Simona Caraceni, from Bologna, Italy, is responsible for its planning. Be sure to visit our website frequently to contribute to the design and preparation of this important meeting, which will be held as part of the ICOM 23rd General Conference taking place from August 10 to 17, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

Report on a year of transition

In the final days of 2010, you entrusted me with the presidency of AVICOM. I have just completed my first year in the position, so it is now time to provide you with a brief overview of what was accomplished in 2011.

• The Board of Directors met three times in Paris
• The priorities established were as follows:

1. Communication with members
   • Transfer of the website to ICOM’s new generic platform
   • Management of the site by a webmaster, with support from the ICOM webmaster
   • Numerous appeals for members’ participation
2. Transparent management of finances
• Along with the Treasurer, implementation of a payment procedure
• Regular issuing of financial reports
3. Relations with ICOM International
• Alignment with ICOM’s strategic plan
• Preparation of annual reports
• Meeting of deadlines when submitting requests for annual grants or in respect to special projects
4. AVICOM activities
   • Setting up of the Organizing Committee for AVICOM Montréal 2012
   • Mandate for organizing the 2013 Annual Conference and Meeting given to Simona Caraceni (Italy)

 

The future of AVICOM  

What I would like to see in 2012:

1. The new generation of museum specialists becoming involved in AVICOM and taking part in events by our providing them with the support needed to do so
2. Growth in the number of AVICOM members, to ensure a wide array of viewpoints are properly represented
3. Major attention given to discussing the role of audiovisual tools and techniques in museum development

 I hope all of you will have a very dynamic year in 2012, and take part in these initiatives.

 

Manon Blanchette Ph.D.
AVICOM President