2020 VRA Foundation Professional Development Grant: Call for Applications
The Visual Resources Association Foundation (VRAF) is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for the VRAF Professional Development Grant program. This program offers two $1000 grants yearly. This grant can be used to support conference participation, enroll in a workshop, for an online education opportunity, or for research activities. For consideration, please submit your application by Friday, February 14, 2020, 11:59PM Pacific Time. If you have any questions about the VRAF Professional Development Grant, please contact the VRAF Board of Directors at vrafoundation@gmail.com. The recipient of the 2020 VRAF Professional Development grant will be announced by Friday, February 28, 2020, and must be used before February 28, 2021.APPLY HEREPurpose: The purpose of the VRAF Professional Development grant is to support professional development in the field of visual resources and cultural heritage information management. The grant can be used to participate in a professional development opportunity of the grantee’s choosing (such as a conference, symposium, workshop, online education), or to enroll in relevant research activities (such as hands-on field work or a site visit for scholarly purposes). Priority will be given to applications that include participation at a conference (giving a paper, teaching a workshop, chairing a committee, etc.); research that shows promise to lead to publication or contributes to the visual resources and cultural heritage information management community; or to applications that can demonstrate that the receiving the opportunity will have a broader benefit to an institution or region. Please note that recipients of the award are required to submit a report outlining how the award contributed to his or her professional development within 30 days following the event.Eligibility
- Applicants should have a professional interest in visual resources and cultural heritage information management, and may include retirees, the currently unemployed, or students seeking educational and training opportunities in support of broad access to cultural information.
- Membership in the Visual Resources Association is not required.
- Statements of financial need will be strongly considered.
Acceptable Uses of Award Money
- Transportation costs to and from the event venue
- Registration fees or tuition
- Required course materials (e.g., workbooks, DVDs)
- Lodging
- Meals – including meals in transit to and from the educational event
- Research expenses
- Grant monies may not be used to cover indirect costs (For example, a percentage of the grant money/funding taken by the grantee's institution to cover perceived overhead.)
Application Criteria
- A goals statement outlining the opportunity, how it will benefit your work, and any potential contributions this opportunity may allow you to make beyond your own professional development.
- A comprehensive budget and breakdown of your proposed travel, lodging, meal, and other expenses. When costs are estimated, please explain (e.g., “roundtrip airfare on United as determined via Expedia search”; my lodging costs reflect an estimate for a shared room). If your institution requires you to use a specific airline, or has set a corporate airfare rate, please note this in the comments section. Be as clear and complete as possible about other funding support you will receive or are applying for, such as from your home institution, or other grants and awards.
- Your resume/curriculum vitae
ApplicationPlease submit an online application to be considered for a VRAF Professional Development Grant.Past recipients include Anne Young, Manager of Rights and Reproductions at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, to attend the 2013 American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education (ALI CLE) Legal Issues in Museum Administration course. Her attendance was crucial in the production of Rights & Reproductions: The Handbook for Cultural Institutions, an indispensable resource. About the grant, Anne wrote, “The Grant funded a portion of my course tuition and associated travel costs to attend the program. It is my belief that this Grant was also a contributing factor to my receiving a partial-scholarship, half of the course tuition, from ALI CLE that further supported my attendance… Without my attendance at ALI CLE’s LIMA and the VRAF’s Grant support, I would not have been able to make the vital connections to make the Handbook contributors and legal review panelists as robust as they are today.” The Handbook is now available and can be downloaded from the American Alliance of Museums website.The VRAF Professional Development Grant Program reflects the broad mission of the VRAF to support professional development in the field of visual resources and cultural heritage information management. The grant can be used to participate in a professional development opportunity of the grantee’s choosing (such as a conference, symposium, workshop, online education), or to enroll in relevant research activities (such as hands-on field work or a site visit for scholarly purposes). For more information about the VRAF, the VRAF Professional Development Grant, and other VRAF programs, please visit vrafoundation.org.https://vrafoundation.org/vrafoundation@gmail.comhttps://twitter.com/vrafoundat
VRA 2020 Baltimore: Special Room Rates Ending Soon
Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore550 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21202(410) 234-0550 / 1-800-766-3782Block Name: Visual Resources Association 2020 Annual ConferenceGroup Code: 0329VSRSAS$149 per night, single/double occupancy, plus taxes and fees
VRA 2020 Baltimore: Take a Tour and Marvel at Baltimore's Treasures!
Take advantage of your time in Baltimore with tours of some of the exciting cultural sites in the area. The local planning committee has thoughtfully curated a slate of activities to introduce you to what the city has to offer, from books to bejeweled walls!
The Walters Art Museum: Chamber of Wonders. Thursday, March 26 • 4:00pm - 5:00pmThis entertaining tour of a delightful “collection of collections” that educates and amazes visitors of all ages will be led by Curator Joaneath Spicer. Three galleries in the museum are installed to suggest the collection of a 17th century nobleman, including an entry hall of arms and armor, a study for intricate small objects, and a larger chamber of arts and wonders.
Stick around after the tour to experience extended hours at WAM and visit the renovated 1 West Mount Vernon Place galleries and exhibitions, and other special exhibitions: Excursions through the Collection (through October 11, 2020) and From Mucha to Morris: Books of the Art Nouveau (through April 19, 2020). After you get your museum cup filled, stroll around Mount Vernon to enjoy one of the many great restaurants in the area. Be sure to save room for a night-cap at The Brewers’ Art. Stayed tuned for more info about dine arounds on Thursday evening!
Visual Resources Association Foundation (VRAF) Announces Can We Do That? Regional Workshop
The Visual Resources Association Foundation (VRAF) is pleased to announce that Can We Do That? Intellectual Property Rights and Visual Media will be held on March 13, 2020 at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. Can We Do That? Intellectual Property Rights and Visual Media is one of the four workshops being offered in the fifth year of the VRAF Regional Workshop Program. The VRA Foundation is grateful to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation for their continued support of this exciting opportunity to partner with cultural heritage and educational institutions.How do I know whether something is protected by copyright? What is fair use and how can I apply it? What copyright exceptions are available for library or archival use? How can I clear a copyright? How do I navigate and negotiate licensing agreements? If you’ve asked yourself these questions, this workshop is for you! Aimed at providing real-world applications within the academic, archival, library, gallery and museum environments, we will use relevant case studies to explore issues such as educational and scholarly usage, securing academic publication rights (including for online use), creative reuse, fair use guidelines, VARA and moral rights, licensing from vendors and rights holders, and the public domain. Participants will also be introduced to tools and resources to help them and their constituents in making decisions regarding appropriate use and dissemination of visual media.Can We Do That? Intellectual Property Rights and Visual Media will be taught by Cara Hirsch, Deputy General Counsel at The Virtual Reality Company, a studio focused on the creation of content for virtual reality film and other experiences. At VRC, Cara oversees all intellectual property matters relating to the company’s business. She is the former Associate General Counsel at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, where she supported Guggenheim’s legal affairs in a wide variety of areas including intellectual property. Prior to the Guggenheim, Cara was Deputy General Counsel for Artstor, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to use digital technology to enhance scholarship, teaching, and learning in the arts, humanities and other fields. Among her duties at Artstor, Cara collaborated in refining Artstor’s intellectual property and other legal strategies for the organization. She also supervised the rights review and clearance process for media collections in the Artstor Digital Library, a digital image resource that makes available to nonprofit institutions over 1.7 million digital images in the arts, architecture, humanities, and sciences. Cara also worked as an Associate at the law firms of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and Andrews Kurth LLP, where she practiced in the field of intellectual property. She served as Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Rights Committee of the Visual Resources Association from 2011-2014. Cara received her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and her B.A., with distinction, from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.Registration for Can We Do That? Intellectual Property Rights and Visual Media is now open. The fee for the workshop is $125. For more information about the workshop and to register, visit here. If you have any questions about registration, please feel free to contact Beth Haas, VRAF Director, bwodnick@princeton.edu. For questions about the venue, please contact Anne Mar, Assistant College Archivist/Metadata Specialist, amar@oxy.edu.https://vrafoundation.org/vrafoundation@gmail.comhttps://twitter.com/vrafoundat
Choose Your Own VRA Adventure and Apply Today
Dear VRA colleagues,It's a new year and a great time to reflect on your career path and your professional development goals. Have you considered charting a course that benefits both you and the VRA? Serving as an appointee for the VRA strengthens your leadership abilities and helps you learn new skills that easily transfer to the workplace. The VRA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community and all members are encouraged to apply.
The VRA Executive Board is now accepting applications for two engaging and rewarding appointee positions: Jobs Digest Coordinator and VRA Bulletin Content Editor. Which one is right for you?
Jobs Digest CoordinatorAre you interested in learning more about how the profession is expanding and changing in exciting ways? Perhaps you would like to serve the VRA and build your resume while you job hunt? This volunteer appointment may be the ideal opportunity for you.
Charge: The Jobs Digest Coordinator compiles and distributes job and paid internship opportunities to all interested parties, highlighting the diverse nature of available positions in the field. The Jobs Digest Coordinator reports to the Public Relations and Communications Officer.
For more details, see the characteristic duties and responsibilities of this position below.
The two-year term will commence on March 25, 2020 at the Annual Business Meeting in Baltimore. You need not be present at the conference to serve. The candidate will have the opportunity to train with the current Jobs Digest Coordinator Kendra Werst to make the transition a smooth one. Kendra has done an exceptional job and the board is most grateful for her service and that of Jasmine Burns, the originator of the digest.
VRA Bulletin Content Editor
Would you like to develop leadership skills in digital publishing and open access? Do you have a passion for writing and editorial work looking for an outlet? Does your employer place high value on your editorial and publishing pursuits? This paid appointment may be an excellent match.
Charge: To solicit and select news articles, professional information, and manuscripts for publication and to manage content uploaded to the electronic journal system. Partners with the Production Editor to plan and supervise the preparation and publication of the VRA Bulletin in electronic form.
For more details, see the characteristic duties and responsibilities of this position below.
The three-year term will officially commence on March 25, 2020 at the Annual Business Meeting in Baltimore. You need not be present at the conference to serve. The Bulletin is published twice per year and the Content Editor is compensated $750 per issue. The candidate will have the opportunity to train with current Content Editor Hannah Marshall. The board wishes to express our most sincere gratitude to Hannah for her service to the Bulletin as both Content Editor and Production Editor over the past four years. The Content Editor will also have the advantage of partnering with the VRA Bulletin Production Editor Amy Lazet and working closely with peer reviewers and copy editors.The mission of the VRA Bulletin is to serve the membership of the VRA by providing a professional forum for the discussion and dissemination of ideas and information directly related to the field of visual resources. It is a journal of professional practice documenting the research, ideas, projects, activities, and history of the Visual Resources Association as well as the broader work of information professionals in image management. Articles authored by members of the Association and like-minded information professionals from outside VRA, cover a wide range of topics including: digital imaging and digital projects; cataloging and classification systems; historical collections and archives; digital humanities; data standards; education and professional development; intellectual property rights and copyright; library systems; collection development; digital curation and preservation; visual literacy and instruction; and, professional standards and ethics.How to Apply for Either Position:Please send a brief statement of interest, highlighting relevant experience and/or skills to Amy McKenna (info@vraweb.org).The deadline for applications is Monday, February 10, 2020. Thank you for considering these vital and rewarding positions.Amy McKennaPublic Relations and Communications Officer, VRA Executive BoardJobs Digest CoordinatorCharacteristic Duties and Responsibilities: The Jobs Digest Coordinator is responsible for collecting relevant job and paid internship opportunities and compiling a weekly digest sent via a digital marketing platform, currently Mailchimp. This board-appointed position searches for job postings on websites such as indeed, LinkedIn jobs, Metro 599, and other relevant sites, and also subscribes to other job digests, such as Archives Gig. The coordinator also receives opportunities emailed directly to them via jobs@vraweb.org. The scope of available positions is kept intentionally broad to not limit the definition of the field. Positions are added to a digital newsletter template, which frequently includes VRA marketing messages such as conference travel awards, VRA Foundation internship awards, etc. The VRA Jobs Digest is scheduled for delivery weekly and the coordinator manages the mailing list, which also allows for self-subscription and removal options, and the digest archive. This position interacts with the Social Media Manager and the Website Content Manager to feature the jobs digest on VRA social media and VRAweb.org.The term of appointment is two years with the possibility of renewal upon request. Annual reports to the Executive Board are required and the board reserves the right to request a Mid-Year report. The Jobs Digest Coordinator should expect to spend 2 hours or less per week in this capacity.VRA Bulletin Content EditorCharacteristic Duties and Responsibilities:The VRA Bulletin Content Editor is appointed by and reports to the VRA Executive Board. The term of appointment is four years and any change in term is subject to board approval. The term may be renewed or reduced by the board. The VRA Bulletin Content Editor works in conjunction with the Production Editor.General
- In partnership with the Production Editor, plan and supervise the preparation and publication of the electronic VRA Bulletin.
- Develop and maintain editorial staff, peer reviewers, and occasional guest editors.
- Establish and maintain working relationships with Executive Board, Production Editor, Membership Services Coordinator, and attend Communications and Publications Group meetings at the annual conference whenever possible.
- Maintain VRA Bulletin editorial working files related to content.
Editorial
- Define and develop the content of the publication.
- Send out calls for content at least two times a year.
- Solicit and select articles, professional information, and manuscripts for publication.
- Work with editorial staff to review content and ask authors for revisions or copy editing.
- Make final decisions on the content for each issue.
- Oversee the progress of materials for publication, including editing for style, content, and organization.
- Write publication copy as needed.
- Communicate with the Production Editor on content readiness.
Administration
- Prepare the Mid-Year and Annual reports for the Executive Board with the Production Editor and include any budgetary information and requests.
- Work with the Executive Board to keep the electronic journal current with trends in electronic scholarship
VRA Foundation (VRAF) has a New Website
Dear VRA Foundation Friends,With the new year and new decade upon us, the VRA Foundation has a new website! Visit us at vrafoundation.org.We have updated the VRA Foundation logo, the aesthetic of the website and the domain. While the appearance of pages and posts has been refreshed, there are no major structural or programming changes at this time. As always, we are continually considering new forms of educational programming and support for professional development and research in the field. We hope you enjoy the updates to the website and if you need to contact us please do so at vrafoundation@gmail.com.Best wishes,On behalf of the VRA Foundation Board of Directorshttps://vrafoundation.org/vrafoundation@gmail.comhttps://twitter.com/vrafoundat
VRA 2020 Baltimore: Workshops to Promote Communication and Success
Hello all!
Our exciting slate of workshops for 2020 Baltimore continues, with three more options for fostering efficacy in your communications. These workshops only have a limited number of seats available, so register for the conference today!
What to improve your retention and communication of key ideas?Visual Communication for Knowledge Acquisition, Processing and Dissemination on Tuesday, March 24: 8:30am - 10:30amJohn Trendler (Scripps College) and Rebecca Moss (University of Minnesota) help you learn how to mind map, sketchnote, draw, and storyboard for exploiting the power of visual communication.
Want to communicate your need and vision to successfully get grant funding?Grant Writing I on Friday, March 27: 8:30am – 10:30amCarmen Cowick (Preserve This) walks you through the grant process and how you start to identify grants to match your need and write clear goals and objectives that will resonate with granting agencies.
Grant Writing II on Friday, March 27: 11am – 1pmCarmen Cowick (Preserve This) leads you through the grant proposal and how to communicate your project in an elevator speech, a narrative/story statement of need, and through email correspondences. Cathleen Tefft (National Endowment for the Humanities) will discuss the ways of preparing for an NEH grant and tips for navigating the federal application process.If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sara SchumacherVice President for Conference ProgramVisual Resources Association
Architecture Image LibrarianArchitecture LibraryTexas Tech University Librariessara.schumacher@ttu.edu806.834.1245Pronouns: she, her, hers
SEI Registration is OPEN!
Registration for SEI 2020 is now open! We are very excited about this year's curriculum, and hope to see many of you at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL from June 23-26, 2020.SEI is a fantastic learning and networking opportunity for students and professionals interested in creating and maintaining sustainable digital collections. The workshop offers participants the chance to meet colleagues from various institutions who are facing similar challenges. Faculty and students share ideas and solutions to these challenges and make lasting professional connections. Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion from ARLIS/NA-VRAF, signed by the ARLIS/NA president and the VRA Foundation chair.SEI is committed to creating and supporting inclusive, diverse, and equitable communities of practice. We invite you to read our Code of Conduct.This intensive workshop has a limited number of seats and fills up fast, so be sure to register soon!If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
VRA 2020 Baltimore: Workshops to Advance Your Digital Collections
Hello all,
As we have an exciting slate of workshops for 2020 Baltimore, I wanted to share some details of three that can improve your skills and help you make an impact. These workshops only have a limited number of seats available, so register for the conference soon!
Want to know how to optimize your digital collections functionality through IIIF?IIIF in 2020: what you need to know to join the party on Tuesday, March 24: 8:30am - 10:30amJeff Mixter (OCLC) and Piotr Adamczyk (Artstor) provide a hands-on workshop of the tools and solutions to deploy an IIIF server with vendor or local support and use IIIF Image APIs, Manifests, and Presentation APIs to unlock the full potential of your image collections.
Want to learn how to address diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility in your collections?Introduction to Critical Cataloging for Visual Resources Professionals on Thursday, March 26: 8:15am -12:15pmKaren Li-Lun Hwang (Asian American Arts Centre) and Treshani Perera (University of Kentucky) provide the theory and tools for expanding digital collection descriptions for greater inclusion and crafting responsibly ethical policies at various stages of the digital project lifecycle.
Want to discover dynamic digitization practices to incorporate at your institution?Taking Your Digitization on the Road on Thursday, March 26: 3:45pm - 5:45pmChris Strasbaugh (The Ohio State University) and Doug Daniels (UCLA Library) give you the opportunity to get your hands around traveling copystands, drones, and 3D scanners, so that you can make the case for deploying these solutions at your institution.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sara SchumacherVice President for Conference ProgramVisual Resources Association
Architecture Image LibrarianArchitecture LibraryTexas Tech University Librariessara.schumacher@ttu.edu806.834.1245Pronouns: she, her, hers
VRA 2020 Baltimore: Welcome to the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore, the Home of VRA 2020
So what will you find at the conference hotel? The recently renovated guest rooms offer a combination of modern amenities and architectural elements and furnishing. The second floor boasts a rotating Art Gallery, curated by a local artist. And from inside the hotel you can view the seasonal, urban apiary on the third-floor garden plaza. At the center is the functioning golden beehive sculpture created by Bob Benson and Rick Ames, local Baltimore artists.
You will also find an indoor swimming pool, racquet ball courts, and tennis courts on the roof with the 24-hour fitness center. Complimentary high-speed wireless internet is available in the guest rooms as well as many of the amenities you have come to expect of the conference hotel.
There are two in-house restaurants. The first location is Explorers, an American Gastropub ideal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For those of you arriving on Monday – apparently Monday is trivia night at Explorers. The second is Formula Espressos, the lobby café, ideal for breakfast and lunch items, and of course coffee (illy coffee to be exact).Out the front door of the hotel you will find the Inner Harbor with the Maryland Science Center with the Davis Planetarium and the Baltimore Visitor’s Center. Within a fifteen minute walk north or south you will find several restaurants, watering holes, Camden Yards, the American Visionary Art Museum and parks.
Remember that staying at the conference hotel is not only convenient for you, it also helps the VRA meet its contractual obligations. Our $149/night rate is lower than we have had the last few years. If you are in need of a roommate to split the cost of the conference hotel, consider checking out the roommate spreadsheet (link sent in your registration confirmation email). Be sure to reserve your room today and I look forward to seeing you in Baltimore in March!Jeannine KeeferPresident-Elect, VRA Executive BoardVisual Resources Librarian, University of RichmondPhotos Courtesy of the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore
Announcing the VRA Travel Award Winners for 2020 Baltimore
Dear VRA colleagues,
The Travel Awards Committee is pleased to present the following as Travel Award winners for the 2020 Conference in Baltimore:
Katherine Lane, Free Library of Philadelphia – Kathe Hicks Albrecht Award
Alan Munshower, University of Mississippi – New Horizons Award
Charlotte Eagle, Pratt Institute – New Horizons Student Award/Tansey Award
Emily Crockett, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill – Garneta Taormina Memorial Student Award
Maureen Burns, IMAGinEd Consulting & Archivision – Tansey Award
Bria Sinnott, Towson University – Tansey Award
Chelsea Stone, Prologis – Tansey Award
Meredith Hale, University of Tennessee, Knoxville – Tansey Award
Tess Colwell, Yale University – Tansey Top-Up Award
Julie Irick, Seattle Municipal Archives – Tansey Top-Up Award
Our thanks to the members of the Travel Awards Committee (Catherine Adams, Morgan Bell, Lael Ensor-Bennett, Marcia Focht, Jean Hudson, Meghan Rubenstein, and Molly Schoen), who gave up significant portions of their Thanksgiving week schedules to evaluate and rank this year's applicants.
Please join us at the awards ceremony during the VRA Convocation on Wednesday, March 25, at 4:00 PM in the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Hotel to recognize and welcome these award recipients.
Allan KohlHeather SeneffCo-Chairs, Travel Awards Committee
SEI 2020 Curriculum Announcement
Dear Colleagues,
We are delighted to announce the curriculum for the 2020 Summer Educational Institute for Digital Stewardship of Visual Information.
SEI 2020 will be held at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL (just outside of Chicago) from June 23-26, 2020. Registration will open on January 13, 2020.
This intensive three and a half-day series of workshops features a curriculum taught by expert instructors who will cover:
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Project Management
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Copyright and Intellectual Property
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Digitization
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Metadata and Critical Cataloging
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DAMs, Digital Curation, and Digital Repositories
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Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusivity in Digital Collections
This year’s faculty includes:
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Steven M. Adams, Librarian for The Graduate School (TGS), Communication Sciences and Disorders, Psychology, and Counseling, Northwestern University Libraries and Board Chair, Black Metropolis Research Consortium
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Greta Bahnemann, Metadata Librarian, Minnesota Digital Library, University of Minnesota
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Carolyn Caizzi, Head, Repository and Digital Curation, Northwestern University Libraries
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Jesse Henderson, Digital Services Librarian, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Treshani Perera, Music & Fine Arts Cataloging Librarian, University of Kentucky
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Bonnie Rosenberg, Manager of Rights and Images, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
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Nancy Sims, Copyright Program Librarian, University of Minnesota
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Molly Szymanski, Digital Archivist, Ryerson and Burnham Libraries at the Art Institute of Chicago
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Dan Zellner, Production Coordinator, Repository and Digital Curation, Northwestern University Libraries
View the module titles and descriptions here: https://seiworkshop.org/class-
New to SEI 2020 is the ability to Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA), an opportunity to customize your SEI experience through half-hour breakout sessions with several experts at Northwestern University. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, choose one of three opportunities to augment the main SEI curriculum modules and take a deeper dive into a specific topic. View the list of CYOA faculty and topics here: https://seiworkshop.org/
The Summer Educational Institute is committed to creating and supporting inclusive, diverse, and equitable communities of practice. We strive to be a welcoming organization that provides information professionals with a substantive educational and professional development opportunity focused on the digital stewardship of visual information and the opportunity to create and participate in a network of supportive colleagues. SEI is a fantastic learning and networking opportunity for professionals interested in creating and maintaining sustainable digital collections of cultural heritage materials, including librarians, archivists, museum curators, visual resources librarians, and graduate students. View our Code of Conduct here: https://seiworkshop.org/code-
For more information on SEI 2020, visit our website: https://seiworkshop.org/
Have questions? Please feel free to contact one of our co-chairs:
Courtney Baron (courtney.baron@louisville.edu
Follow SEI on Facebook, Instagram: @seiworkshop, Twitter: @seiworkshop
VRA at CAA 2020 Chicago
The 2020 CAA annual conference has 300+ sessions exploring over 200 diverse fields of study with 50% focused on women-centered content to celebrate the Centennial of Women's Suffrage. VRA has planned two events that we hope many of you will be able to attend on Wednesday, February 12th. The ever-capable Bridget Madden, from the University of Chicago, will be chairing these sessions.Midday, a VRA Business Meeting is scheduled (free and open to the public) which we have turned into forum opening with a presentation entitled "From Archive to Classroom: The Use of Omeka and Companion Tools in the Curation of Digital Stories and Exhibits" involving Matt Taylor, Director of the Media and Design Studio, and Rebecca Zorach, Mary Jane Crowe Professor of Art and Art History, and their students from Northwestern University. This will be followed by what will surely be an engaging discussion among VRA members and those others who attend.In the afternoon, a formal session has been organized entitled, "Hands-On to Eyes-On: From Material Collections to Digital Exhibitions" (abstract below). It will take place at 4pm at the Hilton Chicago in the Wilford C room. You will have to be registered for the CAA conference to attend this event (session-only or one-day registrations are usually available). Here are the topics and speakers:1) "Materials in Context: Experiential Learning in Art History" at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with Allan T. Kohl, Librarian in charge of Visual Resources and Library Instruction, presenting a collection curator's perspective, partnered with Jessica M. Dandona, Associate Professor of Art History, providing a faculty perspective.2) "Materiality Made Visible" will be presented by Melanie E. Emerson, Dean of the Library + Special Collections, from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.3) "Exhibition in Practice" at the Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, will be presented with Leslie Wilson, Curatorial Fellow for Diversity in the Arts, providing "A Perspective from the Classroom" and Berit Ness, Assistant Curator of Academic Initiatives, talking about "Execution in the Museum."We hope that you will be able to consider joining us and attending CAA 2020. Periodic updates, will be sent, but if you have any questions about this winter conference ahead, please don't hesitate to contact me or Bridget.All the best wishes,Maureen BurnsVRA CAA Affiliate Society Representativemoaburns@gmail.com310-489-3792Hands-On to Eyes-On: From Material Collections to Digital ExhibitionsMany visual resources collections are expanding their purview of managing image collections to added responsibilities for a variety of materials or partnerships with other like-minded resource collections. The hands-on use of materials and museum collections allows students to experience authentic learning by applying knowledge in real-life contexts. This session focuses on specific examples of these types of partnerships and learning situations in two art and design colleges and a university museum. The presenters will discuss: the use of a materials collection in teaching art history survey courses to studio art and design students; fashion and textile resources transitioning from physical to digital collections for enhanced access; and a two-term curatorial practice course sequenced to design and install a museum exhibition. In all cases, the collections used in teaching are prioritized and sustained, not treated as occasional visits or demonstrations, and staff are embedded into the experience to support faculty instruction. The presenters will discuss pedagogical strategies, such as open-ended inquiry, discourse, and social learning, along with the issues of collection development, maintenance, description, access, and usage, while exploring how access to such physical and digital collections as primary sources for pedagogy and student assignments allows for the integration of practical experience into coursework. The role of professional staff supporting these collections and facilitating their use by faculty and students is integral. It will be shown how effective these collaborations can be, including how they can lead to more engaging, active learning experiences in the classroom.
VRA 2020 Baltimore: Travelling to Baltimore and Exploring the City
Baltimore’s location and proximity to Washington DC makes travel easy. Flying? Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI) is only 9.8 miles away from the conference hotel, the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore, and Baltimore Penn Station (BAL-Amtrak/MARC), is only 1.9 miles away.See the Travel Details page on the conference website for complete information on flying, rail, driving, ride sharing, and parking. Valet and self-parking at the hotel will be available to conference attendees at discounted rates.Would you like to share a ride with other attendees to the conference hotel, BWI (airport), Penn Station, or Washington, DC? New this year, a link to a hotel room and ride sharing spreadsheet will be included with your registration confirmation. Save money and network while you navigate the city.When you’re ready to explore, take the free Charm City Circulator to all of the downtown tourist spots or ride the Baltimore Water Taxi through the harbor to historic Fells Point, Federal Hill, and Canton. Feeling adventurous? Take the MTA MARC Train to Washington DC for only $16 round trip. Feeling not so adventurous? Walk across the street from the conference hotel and investigate all of the attractions in the Baltimore Inner Harbor.
Lael Ensor-BennettVice President for Conference Arrangements, VRA Executive BoardAssistant Curator, Visual Resources Collection, Johns Hopkins UniversityJodi Hoover2020 Baltimore Local Planning CommitteeManager, Best & Next Department, Enoch Pratt Free Library
December 20 Deadline Approaching: 2020 VRA Distinguished Service Award & Nancy DeLaurier Award Call for Nominations
Dear VRA colleagues,
The call for nominations for the Visual Resources Association's highest honors--the Distinguished Service Award and the Nancy DeLaurier Award--is open. The awards will be presented during the 2020 VRA conference in Baltimore.
1) The VRA Distinguished Service Award honors an individual who has made an outstanding career contribution to the field of visual resources and image management. Nominees must have achieved a level of distinction in the field either through leadership, research, or service to the profession. Nominees can also be considered for outstanding innovation, participation, or project management in visual resources.
2) The VRA Nancy DeLaurier Award honors a single visual resources professional or a group of visual resources professionals for distinguished achievement in the field. “Achievement” is measured by immediate impact, and may take the form of published work, oral presentation, project management, software development, technology application, website creation, or other outstanding efforts.
Nomination letters for either award are being accepted to Dec 20, 2019.
This is a letter from the nominator(s) describing the nature of the nominee’s general achievements. If necessary, upon submission of your nomination letter, the Awards Committee can work with you to procure the nominee’s curriculum vitae.
Send nomination letters to Awards Committee Chair Steven Kowalik skowalik@hunter.cuny.edu by Dec 20, 2019.
Supporting letters for either award are due by January 17, 2020.
If necessary, the Awards Committee can provide assistance to the nominator(s) to procure supporting letters. Supporting letters should be sent to Awards Committee Chair Steven Kowalik skowalik@hunter.cuny.edu by Jan 17, 2020.
Recommendations from the Awards Committee are subject to approval by the VRA Executive Board. Nomination documents will be retained in the Association Archives. The awards presentation will take place during the 2020 VRA conference in Baltimore.
We strongly encourage co-nominators, and the members of the Awards Committee are prepared to offer help and advice. For more information including a list of previous award recipients, please visit the Awards page on the VRA website.
Please nominate a worthy colleague for these prestigious VRA awards. One heartfelt letter sets the nomination process in motion!
Regards,
Steven Kowalik
VRA Awards Committee Chair
2019 VRA Executive Board Election Results
Dear VRA Members,I am pleased to announce the names of the newly elected VRA Executive Board Officers. Congratulations to:Brian Shelburne (Head of the Digital Scholarship Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst) was elected to the office of Vice President for Conference ArrangementsSue Tyson (Archivist at the California State Archives) was elected to the office of TreasurerMeghan Rubenstein (Curator of Visual Resources at Colorado College) was elected to the office of Public Relations & Communications OfficerNew officers will begin their terms on March 25, 2020, at the conclusion of the Annual Business Meeting during the VRA Conference in Baltimore. We are looking forward to working with these terrific new VRA Board members.On behalf of the Executive Board and the VRA membership, I sincerely thank all of the candidates who stepped forward willing to contribute their time and energy in service to the Association in a leadership role. It's not too early to start considering the 2020 VRA election and if this may be your time to participate in shaping the VRA's future.I would also like to thank Allan T. Kohl and the members of the Nominating Committee, who developed this year's slate of excellent candidates.Warm regards,Stephen PattonVRA Executive Board President
VRA 2020 Baltimore: Registration Opens this Friday, December 6
Early Bird Registration for VRA 2020 Baltimore, March 24-27, opens this Friday, December 6, 2019The annual Visual Resources Association conference provides the opportunity for colleagues from diverse workplaces, including higher education, the corporate sector, museums, and archives to engage and collaborate at an ideally-sized conference of around 200 attendees. Participants enjoy the long-standing association and conference culture of generous knowledge sharing while exploring digital asset management, intellectual property rights, digital humanities, metadata standards, coding, imaging best practices and so much more.The VRA will have almost exclusive use of the conference hotel, Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore, and we want to encourage you to take part in this amazing networking and community building experience. This year’s program includes workshops on IIIF, visual communication, critical cataloging, digitization on the road, and grant writing, as well as sessions delving into topics such as diversity in the workplace, online exhibition platforms, managing rights data, community building, 3D digitization, accessibility, visual literacy, oral histories, and international intellectual property rights. During registration, you will have the opportunity to sign up for tours at the American Visionary Art Museum, Enoch Pratt Free Library, George Peabody Library, the Walters Art Museum, Hirshhorn Museum, and Homewood Museum and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library at Johns Hopkins University.During the conference, explore Charm City! The hotel is right on the Inner Harbor with the Maryland Science Center, complete with IMAX theater, directly across the street. You’ll be able to walk to all of the harbor attractions, including the National Aquarium and the above mentioned American Visionary Art Museum, as well as many restaurants and shops. Wanting to venture slightly farther afield (really, slightly!)? You’ll be able to visit Fort McHenry, the Baltimore Museum of Industry, the Edgar Allan Poe House, the B & O Railroad Museum, Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History & Culture, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, M&T Bank Stadium (home of the Ravens who just happen to be at the time of this post first in the AFC North), as well as all of these historic neighborhoods that will delight foodies everywhere (Fell Point, Canton, Federal Hill, and Mt. Vernon). We’ve got breweries and distilleries, art house movie theaters in Station North (Charles Theater and the Parkway), and so many theater companies! For more about visiting Baltimore, click here.Register early to get your first pick of workshops and tours and save $100 off regular registration rates!The VRA Executive Board and the VRA 2020 Baltimore Local Planning Committee look forward to seeing you soon in Charm City!Lael Ensor-BennettVice President for Conference Arrangements, VRA Executive BoardAssistant Curator, Visual Resources Collection, Johns Hopkins UniversityAmy McKennaPublic Relations and Communications Officer, VRA Executive BoardVisual Resources Curator, Williams College
Mentoring Spotlight: Kendra Long
Kendra Long is the Archivist at 4S Bay Partners, and has been a VRA member since April/May of 2019.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background, and how you got (or hope to get) into the field of visual resources?
I finished my masters of library science in May of 2019. My undergrad was in film production, and I worked as a researcher on feature films until I got burned out from working freelance after a few years. I knew I wanted to stay in film or at least visual media at large, but I needed something full time and consistent. I ended up going back to school for my MLS in archives with the goal of being a film archivist.
Which VRA mentoring activity did you participate in recently?
Year-Round Mentee.
What outcomes did you seek during your mentoring activity?
Networking, professional guidance, and resume and cover letter reviews.
Briefly tell us about who you were matched with.
I was matched with Kendra Werst, who is the Assistant Visual Resources Curator at Williams College.
What was your motivation for participating in the mentoring activity?
The only people I had to bounce ideas off of or to seek advice on the job hunt from were other students in the same position as me -- looking for work, uncertain how to find a job that respected me, unsure if I was qualified for anything.
What aspects of the activity did you find the most valuable, and why?
Honestly just being able to chat with Kendra through Slack has been huge. She's looked over my resume probably a dozen times now, and has reviewed basically every cover letter I've submitted since she became my mentor, and having the perspective of somebody my age who's already gotten a job has made a huge difference. I can ask her anything about the job hunt or working in the field and she's always there to answer me.
Do you have any words of advice or wisdom for any of our members who may be thinking about participating in VRA's mentoring activities?
You don't need to have 25 years of experience under your belt to be a mentor. Being around just to bounce ideas off of is enough. I'm incredibly grateful to what Kendra's been able to help me through.
You can meet Kendra at VRA 2020 in Baltimore!
Need some guidance in the Visual Resources field? Let our mentors show you the ropes! Visit our VRA Mentorship page to learn more! httpS://vraweb.org/opportunities/mentorship
Have you had a great VRA mentoring experience? We would love to hear about it! Contact the Mentor Coordinator to find out to share your story here!
Meet the New VRA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Dear VRA Members,
On behalf of the Executive Board, I am pleased to announce the members of the new VRA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee:
Lael Ensor-Bennett, Johns Hopkins University
Jackie Fleming, Indiana University-Bloomington
Katherina Fostano, Fordham University
Cindy Frank, University of Maryland
Bonnie Rosenberg, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Chelsea Stone
Andrew Wang, Ringling College of Art and Design
Kendra Werst, Williams College
The VRA Board so appreciates these members commitment to contribute in this meaningful way to both the association’s future and the field at large. Their first tasks will include selecting co-chairs, reconsidering the committee's name and charge, and developing an initial list of action items for 2020.
Are you interested in the work of this committee? Please feel free to email the board (board@vraweb.org) for more information or plan on attending the committee's first in-person meeting at the 2020 Baltimore conference.
The board is truly excited to launch this committee and support an equitable, diverse, and inclusive association.
All best,
Amy McKenna
Public Relations and Communications Officer