Newsletter of the working group Art Technological Source Research*
Vol. 1 (2005), nr. 1 (October)**
* Present name pending new name, see below under ICOM-CC.
** AS suggests to number the volumes per annum, thus vol. 2 would be published in 2006.
Meeting in C—rdoba
Present: Elena Cenalmor, Mark Clarke, Stefanos Kroustallis, Doris Oltrogge, Ad Stijnman, Arie Wallert. Guests: Renata Garcia-Moreno, Gertrude Helms, Cheryl Porter, Nicholas Thomas.
Place: Hotel ÔEl TriunfoÕ, C—rdoba (Spain).
Date: 07 October 2005.
Agenda
á ATSR under ICOM-CC
á Membership of ATSR
á Second ATSR symposium in Madrid
á Pre-meeting new ÔinstitutionÕ on art technological research
á Joint ICOM-CC working groups project
á Publications & websites
á Dissemination of information on art technological source research
ICOM-CC
AS summarized his presentation about ATSR in the ICOM-CC directory board (DB) and coordinators meetings on 11 and 16 September 2005. Basically the ATSR working group is accepted under probation as a new working group under ICOM-CC. There are the following requirements:
- The coordinator will appoint one or more assistant coordinator(s); see Appendix 1, 4.4. Elena Cenalmor, Mark Clarke, Jo Kirby and Maartje Witlox agreed to be assistant coordinators. Their names have been passed on to the ICOM-CC secretary.
As explained before, everyoneÕs situation is uncertain at the moment and AS had already announced to resign as coordinator. However, seeing the present situation, AS will continue his activities as coordinator and the assistant coordinators will have nominal functions until 01 March 2006. The working group has to be re-organized in its new position under ICOM-CC in the mean time. The new situation can be assessed and definite decisions can be made in March 2006.
- Becoming a working group under ICOM-CC is subject to approval of the DB at the initiative of at least ten ICOM-CC voting members from at least three countries and normally more than one continent; see Appendix 1, 5.1.a.
During the ICOM-CC conference 22 votes from about a dozen countries and five continents were collected and passed on to the president of the DB; see Appendix 2.
- The working group will have a (new) appropriate name, see Appendix 1, 5.1.b. During the meeting of the old DB it was strongly suggested that the name ÔATSRÕ was not appropriate enough and that we should propose another one. This was because there was discussion on the question what Ôart technologyÕ is.
ÕArt technologyÕ could be defined as: knowledge on the production of works of cultural heritage; see also: http://www.clericus.org/atsr/more.htm. During the C—rdoba meeting the name ÔArtesÕ, from the Latin Ôars Ð artesÕ was suggested. The production of works of art and craft in its broadest sense covers our field of interest, while the Latin refers to our historical interest. ÔArtesÕ could be an acronym, too, of course. Any other suggestions are welcome.
NB: a name for the possible new ÔinstitutionÕ is still pending. Send your ideas to MC; see below under New institition.
- A number of feasible objectives for the coming three years should be negotiated with the DB; see Appendix 1, 5.1.c. The C—rdoba meeting suggested:
- to encourage art technological source research on a professional basis
- to be a platform for the exchange and dissemination of information on the subject, for example by initiating an on-line database for activities and publications on art technological source research
- to have at least 40 members at the end of the probationary period in 2008
- to organize a second ATSR symposium in 2006
- to have the postprints of this symposium published
- to cooperate in multidisciplinary projects, for example by organizing an activity with one or more other ICOM-CC working groups on a subject of joint interest
- to support publications on art technological source research
- to organize a one-day meeting on the foundation of an ÔinstitutionÕ (network, working group, or other) related to Ôart technological researchÕ in 2006
NB: the above are the present objectives and up-coming activities of ATSR. Send comments on this to AS before 25 October 2005 at the latest, as he will be out of office in November and December. He will send these objectives to the DB before November.
- All members of the working group should be individual ICOM members, either as full member, friend or student-friend; see Appendix 1, 5.2. See further under Membership.
Membership
Members of ATSR should be full member, friend or student-friend of ICOM-CC. Membership of ICOM-CC itself is free. However, to be eligible for membership you must join ICOM. For further details see: http://icom-cc.icom.museum/Membership/.
All present ATSR members are kindly asked to send their ICOM registration numbers to AS, who will compile and maintain a membership list; see Appendix 1, 4.3.
There may be a problem here, as not all present members and people interested in ATSR may be affiliated to a museum, as is usual to become an ICOM member. It seemingly depends per country, while the final decission is made by the main ICOM office. Solutions may be a temporary affiliation with a museum at the time of becoming a member, or ATSR having Ôexternal/corresponding membersÕ.
Regularly messages are received from persons interested in receiving the ATSR newsletter or becoming ATSR member. Up untill now people were referred to the ATSR website for details and there was a temporary stop on membership. AS will send message around to all who showed their interest in the past year about how to become ATSR member.
Second ATSR symposium
Roc’o Bruquetas, EC and SK have started organizing the second ATSR symposium in Spain in September 2006. The title will be: ÔArt Technological Source Research: towards a new disciplineÕ. EC will separately send an overview of the planning and the financial aspects.
New institution
The pre-meeting on a possible new ÔinstitutionÕ on art technological research decided that it is desirable to organize a meeting on establishing such an ÔinstitutionÕ. The invited participants are asked to send in their ideas and opinions about this. MC will process the replies.
The first possibility to organize this meeting will be just before or after the IIC conference in Munich from 03-08 September 2006, as most invited participants will attend that conference. Mark Richter already volunteered to organize an ATSR meeting in Munich around the IIC conference. Maybe he wants to extend this to a meeting about the possible new ÔinstitutionÕ.
However, waiting until the Munich conference for having such a meeting will mean a gap of ten months. This is too long to keep peopleÕs interest in the subject. It is therefore necessary to organize some kind of activity in between. Suggestions are welcome.
Joint project
Jo Kirby and Gunnar Heydenreich have been discussing about a joint project of several ICOM-CC working groups, including ATSR, to organize a multidisciplinary project on Ôpreparation of surfacesÕ. Plans are made at the moment and will be sent around in a few weeks.
Publications & websites
The postprints of the symposium are a success; for cover and contents see: http://www.clericus.org/atsr/postprints.htm. Positive comments and congratulations are received on both content and design. All participants to the symposium have been sent a copy. The book was advertised in the ICOM-CC conference newspaper and a short article will be devoted to it in the Dutch Technisch Weekblad soon. Review copies will be sent to various magazines. Archetype has already contacted EC about publishing the postprints of next yearÕs symposium.
The manual on art techniques - edited by Truusje van Bueren, MC and HW, while Erma Hermens joined them recently Ð is progressing slowly. Deadline for first concepts is postponed 01 December 2005. Publication is planned for 2006.
It is obliged that all working group publications, and subsequently the ATSR websites, carry the ICOM-CC logo.
MC updated his ATSR website with information about the postprints and logoÕs of and links to ICOM & ICOM-CC: http://www.clericus.org/atsr/index.htm. The ATSR pages on the ECHN website are not updated, yet, as it does not seem to be possible to contact its webmaster.
Dissemination of information
There was a call for sending ÔambassadorsÕ on art technological source research to conferences on art history, for lecturing about atsr at schools and universities, and publishing about this kind of research.
MC will create facilities for an on-line database for activities and publications about art technological source research on his website. All are kindly asked to supply information for this.
During the C—rdoba conference information about ATSR and next yearÕs symposium was given, and the postprints were shown. This met with great interest.
Actions
á AS will contact the ICOM-CC DB concerning requirements.
á All present ATSR members are kindly asked to send their ICOM registration numbers to AS, who will compile and maintain a membership list.
á AS will send message around to all who showed their interest in the past year about how to become ATSR member.
á EC, RB and SK continue organizing the second ATSR symposium.
á EC will send the planning and the financial aspects of the second ATSR symposium.
á MC will coordinate processing replies on the question about a possible new ÔinstitutionÕ.
á JK will send a plan around for a joint project on Ôpreparation of surfacesÕ.
á MC will create facilities on his ATSR website for an on-line database for activities and publications about art technological source research.
Appendix 1: new ICOM-CC by-laws
BY-LAWS OF THE ICOM INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR CONSERVATION
Last revised September 2005
The ICOM Committee for Conservation (hereinafter called the Committee) is an International Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in accordance with the Article 17 of the ICOM Statutes.
1. Aims
1.1 The CommitteeÕs aims are:
a. To provide an organized framework within which specialists interested in conservation may meet and work on an interdisciplinary level.
b. To promote and maintain the highest standards of examination, documentation, preservation, conservation and restoration of cultural property by bringing together from all countries those who are responsible for cultural property (as defined by Article 2 of the ICOM Statutes): conservators-restorers, scientists, curators, educators, administrators and other related professionals.
c. To promote research of a scientific and/or technological nature pertaining thereto.
d. To collect and disseminate information about materials, methods and developments in all conservation-related fields.
e. To foster within the museum community, the general public and policy makers an awareness of the need to safeguard our cultural property by making available the relevant knowledge.
2. Composition and Procedures
2.1 The Committee is composed of Working Groups and their Participants, Coordinators and the Directory Board (hereinafter called the Board) who are current financial members of ICOM who have selected the Conservation Committee as the sole International Committee on which to vote in accordance with Article 12 of the ICOM Statutes, honorary members, Friends of ICOM-CC, Student Friends of ICOM-CC and co-opted members as provided in Articles 11 and 15 of the Rules and Procedures for the International Specialized Bodies of ICOM. The members of the Board and coordinators must be members of ICOM.
2.2 In accepting their office, Board members, Coordinators and Assistant Coordinators undertake to devote sufficient time and to find the means necessary to carry out their functions.
2.3 The Committee will meet normally every three years in a full session known as Triennial Meeting, which includes a General Assembly. All ICOM members, Friends of ICOM-CC and Student Friends of ICOM-CC and other interested persons may attend.
2.4 During the Triennial Meeting the election of the Board and Coordinators will take place. Changes in the organizational procedures and By-Laws will take place during the General Assembly.
2.5 The Treasurer will prepare a financial statement for inclusion in the ChairmanÕs Annual report to the Advisory Committee of ICOM. A detailed report on the Triennium will be given to the membership before the Triennial Meeting for ratification at the General Assembly.
2.6 Honorary Membership may be awarded at the General Assembly on a motion of the Board to those persons who have rendered exceptional services to the ICOM Conservation Committee in particular and to the conservation profession in general.
3. Directory Board
3.1 The Board is composed of eight elected members and the Director General of ICCROM serves ex-officio as a member of the Board. Members of the Committee should be mindful of the need to have a spread of members representing conservators-restorers, conservation scientists, curators, administrators and other related professionals The Director General of ICCROM may preside over secret and separate ballots for the positions of Chairperson, two Vice-Chairperson and Treasurer from within the ranks of the elected members of the Board. The Board will also appoint an Administrative Secretary (see old 3.5). A maximum of two members of the Board may be elected from any one country.
3.2 The Committee elects the Board at the Triennial meeting for a period of three years by direct or electronic voting. Not later than six months before the Triennial Meeting the Board will call for nominations. Any member of ICOM-CC may offer himself or herself for election by submitting their candidacy electronically to the ICOM-CC Secretariat within three months of the call. Candidates must submit a personal statement including curriculum vitae of no more than 250 words and a recent photographic image, which will be posted on the ICOM-CC web site at least three months before the date of the Triennial Meeting. Candidates must be currently financial members of ICOM who have chosen the Committee for Conservation as the Committee on which to vote.
3.3 Ordinary Board members may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms of office. If a Board member holds an executive position on the Board during the second triennial term s/he is eligible for election to the board for one further triennial period (see old 3.2).
3.4 An election Committee, consisting of an Election Supervisor and two scrutineers will be proposed by the Board at the General Assembly at the opening of the Triennial meeting to conduct the election.
3.5 When the newly elected Board is presented to the General Assembly it assumes its functions from the end of the general business meeting. Prior to that time the previous board maintains operational responsibility for running the Triennial meeting.
3.6 If all its members are newly elected, the Board may co-opt up to two members of the previous Board to ensure continuity. In other circumstances, it may at its discretion co-opt up to two members for specific functions.
3.7 The Board will meet at least once a year. Delegates from international organizations such as UNESCO, ICOMOS, IIC or other national organisation as appropriate may be invited to attend meetings of the Board as observers.
3.8 The functions of the Board are:
a To be responsible for the overall management and functioning of the Committee and any funds it might hold, according to the aims and objectives set out in section I.
b To secure a host and location for the Triennial meeting and provide advice to the local organizing committee of the host country.
c To decide upon the formation or reorganization of Working Groups, Tasks Forces, Ad Hoc Committees or other bodies as required.
d To confirm the election of Coordinators and the appointment of Assistant Coordinators.
e To review on a regular basis the objectives, activities and financial status of Working Groups. The Board reserves the right to remove Coordinators who do not fulfil their duties according to these By-Laws (Para 4.5), subject to a three-quarter-majority vote of the Board.
f To make provisional changes in the By-Laws as required, for ratification at the next General Assembly of the Committee or by postal ballot.
g To bring resolutions to the attention of members with six months notice prior to voting either at the General Assembly or by electronic means on the website. A coordinator would normally endorse a resolution but individuals may also submit. A simple majority vote will determine the acceptance of the resolution which would then be posted on the website.
4. Coordinators
4.1 Coordinators will be elected during their respective Working Group sessions at the Triennial Meeting. Election results are to be confirmed by the Board. Coordinators are elected at each Triennial Meeting and may hold office for a maximum of two consecutive terms.
4.2 ICOM members will elect the Coordinators by a written ballot during the Working Group business meeting, which is supervised by the outgoing coordinator. Only voting Working Group members who are present at the Triennial Meeting are eligible to vote. A simple majority of valid votes will determine the result.
4.3 The outgoing coordinator will provide the list of Working Group members eligible to vote.
4.4 Each coordinator will appoint one or more Assistant Coordinator(s)
The functions of coordinators are:
a To maintain and stimulate communication between the Working Group members during the term of office by, for example, establishing newsletters, organizing interim meetings, and through general correspondence.
b To solicit and review papers for presentation by the Working Groups during the Triennial Meeting. Coordinators will also participate in the processes laid out by the Board for the final selection of papers to be published in the Preprints of the Triennial Meeting.
c To undertake any administrative duties necessary to ensure the continued successful functioning of the Working Group. This will include presentation to the Board at the Triennial Meeting of annual financial reports and a review of the activities of the Working Group members as requested, or other matters that the Coordinator or Working Groups wishes to bring to the attention of the Board.
5. Working Groups
5.1 Name, formation and probationary period
a Working Groups are established, subject to approval of the Board at the initiative of at least ten ICOM-CC voting members from at least three countries and normally more than one continent. The new Working Group should be distinctive and not overlap with an existing Working Group. The Board may consult one or more Working Group Coordinators when specific questions regarding the covered subject should arise. However, the Board alone shall take the final decision, about the formation of a new Working Group.
b A (new) Working Group should be given a name this is representative for the subject(s) covered and that cannot be confused with any other Working Group name. New names, including proposed changes, should be discussed with the Board before final acceptance.
c A new Working Group shall have a development period of one complete Triennial period including the Triennial Meeting. During this period, the new Working Group will be offered assistance by the coordinatorsÕ liaison on the Board and the ICOM-CC Secretariat. At the end of the development period, the Board will evaluate if the newly established Working Group will acquire full status or not. The board will do so against criteria, which will have been negotiated with the new group at its inception. Full status means working independently. If full status is not achieved, the group will be dissolved.
d Proposals for name changes, mergers and demergers of Working Groups must be submitted to the Board. The Board may consult relevant Working Group coordinators and members before making a final decision. Merged or demerged groups are further subject to any other condition in the same way as new groups.
5.2 Members
Every member of ICOM-CC, who must be either an ICOM member or a Friend of ICOM-CC or Student Friend of ICOM-CC, may be a member of one or more Working Groups. The only requirement is registration on the coordinatorÕs membership list, which must include the ICOM-CC or Friend of ICOM-CC or Student Friends of ICOM-CC registration number. Only ICOM members are eligible to vote and hold office.
5.3 Abeyance/Dissolution
If the aims of a given Working Group are not fulfilled, or if there is a lack of activity by a Group, the Board may decide to place the given Working Group in abeyance for a period of one Triennial period after which, in the absence of renewed activity, it will be dissolved. In exceptional circumstances the Board may take action or propose a new coordinator in order to continue the Working Group program until the issues are resolved. The final decision resides with the Board.
Appendix 2
ICOM members voting in favour of ATSR being a new working group under ICOM-CC, plus ATSR members who are (probably) also ICOM-CC member. There are probably more ATSR members also member of ICOM-CC. Helen Westgeest is ICOM member.
|
voting member |
address |
|
Cane, Simon |
|
|
Carlyle, Leslie |
|
|
Clarke, Mark |
|
|
Dam, Andries J. van |
|
|
Grevenstein, Anna van |
|
|
Hanna Aziz Hanna, Hany |
|
|
Imhoff, Hans-Christoph von |
|
|
Janssen, Elsje |
|
|
Kirby Atkinson, Jo |
|
|
Kolar, Jana |
|
|
Lookeren-Campagne, Kate van |
|
|
Nadolny, Jilleen |
|
|
Reifsnyder, Joan Marie |
|
|
Richter, Mark |
MarkRichter33@gmx.de |
|
Sawicki, Malgorzata |
|
|
Scharff, Mikkel |
|
|
Schulze, Andreas |
|
|
Souza, Luiz A.C. |
|
|
Tagle, Alberto de |
|
|
Townsend, Joyce H. |
|
|
Wallert, Arie |
|
|
Witlox, Maartje |