Newsletter Issue Number:
AICCM National Newsletter No 148 December 2019
Author:
Jennifer O'Connell

What is a viable and relevant collections profession, long term?

Who are the future generations for whom we are preserving the collections?

What is AICCM’s role in the future (2070)?

These are just three of a range of questions we asked ourselves at the recent Foresight Workshop organised by the Sustainable Collections Committee – MaryJo Lelyveld, Sarah-Jane Rennie and Ainslee Meredith. Thirty people from across the conservation profession and representatives from allied trades met to discuss the future of the collections profession. The workshop was facilitated by Jose Ramos, Director, Foresight Action, who gave a structure and theoretical framework on which to base the process. We reflected on previous visions of the profession, our current vision, and from that established a vision for the future. We then looked at activities to undertake, and communities with whom to work, to support the vision. The Sustainable Collections Committee put in six months of work before the workshop and is now following up with a report. The findings will create the basis of the AICCM Strategic Plan 2020–2025.

One of the components of the Foresight approach was to look for trends beyond the current political climate. Despite that, it still felt appropriate to write to the Government to express concerns at the step to move the Department of Communications and the Arts into a newly formed Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. On behalf of the AICCM, I wrote a letter to the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts. This letter is available on the Advocacy page of the AICCM website.

The Foresight Workshop bookended the highly successful 2019 AICCM National Conference held at the Arts Centre in Melbourne. The AICCM Victoria Division put on a wonderful conference with a broad range of papers, panel sessions and meetings/activities during the breaks. Please take the time to read through some of the reviews in this edition of the e-News.

The AICCM Awards were presented at the National Conference Welcome Drinks. The awards showcase the breadth of work being undertaken by conservators and conservation volunteers. Congratulations to all the recipients! We acknowledge the generosity of the late Colin Pearson for the Research Award, and the sponsorship of four awards this year by the Association of ADFAS. Please read about the award recipients here.

AGM 46 was also held during the National Conference. National Council was elected with two changes. Thank you to Didee Knight, Event & SIG Coordinator, and Nick Flood, Secretary, who both stepped down after contributing much to the organisation. We welcome Melanie Sorensen and Amy Bartlett into the roles. The AICCM National Council and contractors will take a well-earned breakfrom Friday 22 December 2019 until Monday 3 January 2020.

On behalf of National Council, we hope you have a wonderful holiday, and we look forward to working with you in the New Year … and new decade! See you in 2020.