Nominations Sought for 2019 VRA Executive Board Elections
Please consider running for the VRA Executive Board!
Three key positions on the VRA Executive Board will be on the ballot for the Association’s election this coming November:
· Vice President for Conference Arrangements
· Treasurer
· Public Relations & Communications Officer
The Nominating Committee is actively seeking nominations for these positions. Running for office is an excellent way to serve the Visual Resources Association, get to know more of your colleagues in the field, and give yourself an opportunity to grow professionally. If you are interested in serving on the VRA Executive Board please feel free to contact any previous or current officer; they would be happy to share their experiences and reflections of their time in office.
The Nominating Committee encourages members to place themselves, or other qualified individuals, in consideration for nomination by contacting the Chair or any member of the Committee. Feel free to contact any Nominating Committee member with any questions you may have regarding the nomination process.
VRA is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Applicants from underrepresented communities and with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
The VRA Bylaws provide additional information about the terms and duties of each officer position.
Thank you,
VRA 2019 Nominating Committee
Allan T. Kohl, Minneapolis College of Art and Design (Chair)
Krystal Boehlert, University of California, Riverside
Jasmine Elizabeth Burns, Cornell University
Chris Strasbaugh, Ohio State University
VRA 2020 Baltimore: Call for Proposals
Call for Proposals
The Visual Resources Association’s 2020 Annual Conference will be held in Baltimore, Maryland from Tuesday, March 24th through Friday, March 27th, 2020 at the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore. Presenting at the VRA Conference provides you with the opportunity to see how your ideas, research, work, and passion connect to those of other dedicated professionals while building networks and friendships in an open, collaborative environment.
Click here to access the conference proposal form.
The VRA Executive Board is soliciting proposals for papers, sessions, special interest/user groups, and workshops for the 2020 program until Friday, July 19th. All proposals are welcome, and if you have other conference ideas or suggestions that do not fit the conference proposal form, please reach out to the Vice President for Conference Program, Sara Schumacher. Please note a call for Lightning Round presenters will go out in the fall/winter, so that we can better accommodate recent innovations and activities, as well as, students and emerging professionals.
- A paper is an individual idea submission, which will be reviewed for possible grouping into a session. Your ideas, whether they come to us alone or in a group, are equally valued in the Board's proposal and selection process.
- A session is a maximum 60-minute moderated panel, usually consisting of no more than 3 presenters each, speaking for 15 to 18 minutes, followed by a brief facilitated question and answer period. If you feel your session topic requires more time, consider dividing it into two sessions, consisting of a Part I and a Part II.
- A special interest/user group is a 60-minute informal, community -driven, facilitated group discussion on topics related to a specific segment of the VRA membership.
- A workshop is a 2, 4, or 8-hour workshop to develop skills and experience in the field of visual resources with hands-on activities.
What should you propose?
Past conference schedules can give you an idea of the range of topics presented in previous years or read through the list below of suggested topics compiled from the 2019 post-conference survey responses to find inspiration. Please, do not be afraid to deviate and propose something new or highlight an area of concern that you feel has not been adequately addressed previously, as you may find new collaborators and colleagues. Moderators may put out calls for presenters within a proposed topic before or after the submission of a proposal. The VRA Executive Board will be looking for articulate and concise submissions with lists of presenters, but submissions without presenter lists are encouraged as well.
Suggested topics:
- Coding (PHP, Python, SQL, etc.)
- Community Outreach
- Copyright/Intellectual Property
- Digital Asset Management, Digital Curation, Digital Preservation, etc.
- Digitization (Workflows, Digital Capture and Imaging Technologies)
- Digital Scholarship and Digital Humanities
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Cultural Competencies, Social Justice
- Project Management (Communication, Grant writing, Prioritization, Leadership, etc.)
- Linked Data
- Materials/Objects collections
- Metadata/Cataloging Ethics (Decolonizing vocabularies, Radical cataloging)
- Storytelling and Oral History
- Technologies (GIS and mapping, 3D imaging, etc.)
- Tools: Open Source, Evolution, Future Trends
- Workplace cultures and professional transitions (academic departments, libraries, cultural heritage institutions, archives, corporate, etc.)
Please contact the Vice President for Conference Program, Sara Schumacher at vpcp@vraweb.org with any questions or concerns.
Again, the proposal deadline is Friday, July 19th, 2019. Click here to access the conference proposal form.
We look forward to hearing your ideas!
Sara Schumacher
Vice President for Conference Program
Visual Resources Association
vpcp@vraweb.org
Apply to be the VRA Social Media Manager
Dear VRA colleagues,
Are you interested in expanding your social media skills in Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, while serving the VRA in a dynamic outreach role?
The Executive Board is now accepting applications for the position of Social Media Manager. All members are encouraged to consider this important appointment for the VRA, especially if you are fluent in social media platforms and skilled in marketing and/or writing. The Social Media Manager is a volunteer position appointed by the Executive Board.
The two-year term will commence on July 1, 2019. The candidate will have the opportunity to shadow and train with the current Social Networking Coordinator Kendra Werst in June to make the transition a smooth one. Kendra has done an outstanding job expanding and elevating the Association's social media presence and the board wishes to express our sincerest thanks. She has worked with me to update the appointment's title and charge, and to draft characteristic duties and responsibilities (see below). She also designed the wonderful graphic featured above.
To apply, please send a statement of interest, highlighting relevant experience to Amy McKenna (info@vraweb.org). Queries about the position may also be sent to me or directly to Kendra Werst (socialmedia@vraweb.org).
The deadline for applications is Friday, May 31.
Thank you for considering this exciting and rewarding position.
Amy McKenna
VRA Public Relations and Communications Officer
Social Media Manager
Charge:
The Social Media Manager engages in outreach for the VRA through the creation and management of content published to VRA social media accounts, increasing the visibility of the Association’s online presence. The Social Media Manager reports to the Public Relations and Communications Officer.
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:
The Social Media Manager is responsible for communicating with VRA entities and allied/affiliated organizations to obtain, create, and facilitate current content for VRA’s social media accounts, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Posts should be timely and demonstrate the wide breadth of topics encompassed by the VRA. This board-appointed position utilizes a social media management tool, such as Hootsuite, to schedule and publish content across social media platforms. This approach streamlines the workflow, promoting consistent messaging and alleviating the urgency of real-time posting. An important aspect of this position is to interact with and support the social media profiles of the VRA Foundation and other related organizations and groups on behalf of the VRA. The Social Media Manager is expected to reach out to VRA committees, advisory groups, task forces, appointees, and regional chapters to collaborate on special projects, such as the Intellectual Property Rights Committee’s social media takeover for Fair Use week.
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. Depending on the time of year and level of Association activity, the Social Media Manager should expect to spend at least 2-5 hours per week in this capacity. Time-sensitive updates may require a same-day response.
VRA Bulletin: Call for Content, Inaugural Open Access Issue
Dear Colleagues,
As part of the VRA Bulletin’s hybrid peer-review model, we’re able to continue accepting non-peer reviewed article submissions for the Spring 2019 issue through Friday, May 24th! The Spring 2019 Issue will be published in June as our inaugural Open Access issue.
We especially hope that, if you presented at VRA, you’ll take this additional window to adapt your presentation into an article. The Bulletin is flexible with the format and length of non-peer reviewed submissions, but some broad guidelines are listed below:
- Feature articles: 2,000 - 5,000 words
- Perspectives (opinion pieces): 1,000 - 3,000 words
- Case studies & project updates: 500 - 2,000 words
- Reviews: 250 - 1,000 words
- Association news & reports - any length
There are two ways to get started publishing in the VRA Bulletin:
1. If you’d like to run your article idea by the editors before getting started, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Content Editor, Hannah Marshall (marshall.hannah.marie@gmail.com)
2. If your article is written and ready-to-go, upload it directly to our online journal system by following these instructions
Sincerely,
Hannah Marshall, Content Editor
Amy Lazet, Production Editor
VREPS Spring Virtual Meeting Registration
If you are a Visual Resources Emerging Professional or Student please join your fellow VREPS colleagues for a Spring Virtual Meeting on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, from 2:00pm-3:00pm EST!
Please fill out this form to register & receive a zoom meeting link.
2020 Nancy DeLaurier Award
The VRA Awards Committee is seeking nominations for the 2020 Nancy DeLaurier Award.
Although nominations must be initiated by a member of the Visual Resources Association, recipients do not have to be VRA members. We encourage the VRA membership to look at any presentations, projects, publications, research, tools, technologies, and other outstanding efforts that have made an impact on your work in visual resources and to submit a nomination.
Past project-based recipients include:
- 2016 - Developers of VRA Core (Esme Cowles, Ben Kessler, Trish Rose-Sandler, Jan Eklund)
- 2015 – Editors of Cataloging Cultural Objects (Murtha Baca, Patricia Harpring, Elisa Lanzi, Linda McRae, Ann Whiteside)
Please note that current members of the VRA Awards Committee or the Executive Board should not write in support of a nomination, nor should they be included in nominations. Please reach out to a current Awards Committee member if you have a recommendation in mind, and we will guide you through the nomination process.
Who would you like to see recognized for their contributions? Feel free to contact any member of the Awards Committee if you have any questions about the nomination process, or if you’d like to suggest a nomination for the 2020 VRA Distinguished Service Award. Here’s the link for more details and contact information: httpS://vraweb.org/about/committees/awards-committee/
We hope to learn of some fantastic efforts happening across the Visual Resources Association and beyond that have made a tremendous influence on your work.
Regards,
Steven Kowalik
VRA Awards Committee chair
VRA LA 2019: Presentations Now Available on SlideShare
Still thinking about those engaging sessions you saw in LA or wishing you could have been able to attend?
Select presentations from VRA LA 2019 are now available on SlideShare:
Deadline Extended to May 10th for 2019 VRA Foundation Project Grant Call for Applications
2019 VRA Foundation Project Grant: Call for Applications
Deadline Extended to: May 10, 2019
The Visual Resources Association Foundation (VRAF) 2019 Project Grant application period is now open. This grant program supports projects which reflect the VRA Foundation’s mission to advance education, research, and outreach in the field of visual resources and image management.
A single grant is available during the spring 2019 cycle with up to $3000 to be awarded. This funding may be used for a stand-alone project, a pilot or start-up financing for a larger project, or for a significant component of a larger project. In general, collaborative projects and those proposed by groups, whether or not affiliated with an organization or institution, are encouraged. In addition, innovative projects thatresult in a broader impact and be shared throughout the global community are of particular interest. Categories to be considered for funding include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
- Metadata for Visual Media
- Visual Media Cataloguing Standards
- Visual Media Data Standards
- Digitization Projects of special or unique collections (Educational Institutions, Libraries, Museums)
- Visual Literacy
- Technology Development for Visual Media Management and Pedagogy
- Intellectual Property Rights
The project must be completed within one year from the time the grant is formally accepted. The grant will be disbursed in two increments: $1500 at the start of the granting period, and $1500 pending the submission of a mid-project progress report. A final report, including a financial statement, on how the funds contributed to the project is due within one month of the project's completion. Failure to complete the proposed project may result in the grantee returning the funds.
More information about the Project Grants, including the application form and previous recipients, can be found on the Visual Resources Association Foundation website at: https://vrafoundation.com/project-grant/
For full consideration, please submit your application (https://forms.gle/wgJHo2CtvaR7FWmE9) byFriday, May 10, 2019, 11:59pm Pacific Time. The recipient of the VRAF Project Grant will be announced by May 24, 2019.
The VRA Foundation has United States Internal Revenue Service status as a 501(c) 3 non-profit entity. All elements of a proposed project must be performed within the legal parameters of United States local, regional, and federal government requirements. International applications are welcome from institutions or individuals provided applicant institutions have the equivalent of US non-profit status, and applicant individuals have a similar non-profit, educational purpose.
If you have further questions about the Project Grant Program or the application process, please contact the VRAF Board of Directors at vrafoundation@gmail.com.
On behalf of the VRAF Board of Directors
Donate & Win: Congrats to Allan Kohl & Amy Lazet!
The Executive Board is delighted to announce the donation drawing winners, Allan T. Kohl and Amy Lazet! They can choose a free conference registration for 2020 Baltimore or a one-year membership to the VRA for themselves or a friend.
Regarding his reasons for supporting VRA with his donation, Allan wrote “I really do believe in the spirit of ‘members helping members’ in a direct and tangible way.”
Amy responded that “VRA has been a fabulous source of professional development opportunities…as well as a prime place for networking and forming lasting relationships, both professionally and personally.”
Thanks again to all the members that donated in our donation drive, and the Executive Board looks forward to providing new raffle or donation prize opportunities in Baltimore for 2020!
Robb Detlefs, 2019 VRA Distinguished Service Award Winner
The Awards Committee of the Visual Resources Association is delighted to announce that Robb Detlefs, Gallery Systems, EmbARK Product Manager, is the 2019 recipient of the Association’s Distinguished Service Award. He was nominated for this award by Julia Deal, Davidson College.
For more than twenty years, Robb has proven himself to be a steadfast supporter of the visual resources profession and the VRA in particular. He has worked to support the creation of important visual resource technologies (e.g., LIDO - Lightweight Information. Describing Objects, and CDWA Lite). Through his skilled networking across organizations, institutions, and commercial partners, Robb has been an unofficial liaison between the VRA and other professional organizations, such as the Museum Computer Network. As proof of his dedication to the VRA and its members, Robb has worked on four VRA committees, and was the Public Relations and Communications Officer while serving on the VRA Executive Board. The VRA Core Advisory committee has long benefitted from his practical expertise. He is active in the VRA Northern California Chapter and has participated and presented at CaVraCon and numerous VRA conferences. On a personal note, those who know him discover that although Robb may start out as a professional colleague, he will soon become a true friend.
Please take a moment to learn more about the 2019 Distinguished Service Award recipient by reading the 2019 VRA Conference nomination speech presented by Julia Deal and Marcia Focht (Binghamton University, SUNY) as well as Robb’s acceptance speech at: httpS://vraweb.org/about/committees/awards-committee/vra-awards-recipients/.
Being a member of the Awards Committee comes with an award all its own. What could be more rewarding an obligation than taking part in choosing and celebrating a colleague that has given so much to VRA! The heart of this association is its dedicated, hardworking members who keep this association vital and pertinent as we move into the future. Do you know someone that fits this description? It’s not too early to start thinking about next year’s recipient. The Awards Committee solicits nominations from you, the membership, for consideration for this award. Who would you like to see recognized for their contributions? Feel free to contact any of us on the Awards Committee if you have any questions about the nomination process, or if you’d like to suggest someone for the 2020 VRA Distinguished Service Award. Here’s the link for more details and contact information: httpS://vraweb.org/about/committees/awards-committee/
Sincerely,
Steven Kowalik
VRA Awards Committee Chair
VRA LA 2019: Conference Survey: Attendees and Non-Attendees
Dear colleagues,
The VRA Executive Board is already hard at work preparing for future conferences, but we need your voice to ensure everyone can benefit from conference activities.
Attendees of the VRA 2019 Annual Conference in Los Angeles should have received last week, an email invitation to complete a post-conference survey. With your experiences in Los Angeles still fresh in your mind, the VRA Executive Board would greatly appreciate it if you would take 10-15 minutes to complete the 28-question survey and share your comments and suggestions. If you did not receive this invitation, here is a link to the survey for attendees:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7G88HFG
If you did not attend VRA 2019, we would also like to hear from you, to gain some insight into why you didn’t attend this year, and to hopefully get some feedback that will make it more likely that you will attend future conferences. Here is a link to the survey for non-attendees:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7ZF8LR2
Your responses will give the Executive Board guidance as we plan the programming for the 2020 Baltimore conference. The surveys are anonymous, so please be open and honest with your feedback. The surveys will close on Friday, May 3rd, 2019.
Again, thank you to everyone that participated in the 2019 conference, and thank you for taking the time to assist us as we consider ways to improve future VRA conferences. Please feel free to contact me directly (vpcp@vraweb.org) if you have any questions or concerns.
-Sara
Sara Schumacher
Vice President for Conference Program
Visual Resources Association
VRA LA 2019: Conference Photos
View and Upload Conference Photos at the VRA Events Group in Flickr
Conference attendees are invited to upload their photographs from VRA LA 2019 to the Visual Resources Association Events group in Flickr. Visit https://www.flickr.com/groups/vra_events/ to join the group, upload your photos, and browse some amazing shots that just might include you!
Please assist the VRA in documenting our past, current, and future conferences, meetings, and other events. Add your favorite photos and let them go down in history!
Donate, Win, and Save-the-Date
Would you like to win a free conference registration for 2020 Baltimore, March 24-27, or a one-year membership to the VRA?
CLICK HERE FOR THE DONATION BUTTON
Due to strict gambling laws in California, the Executive Board was unable to include a raffle at this year’s conference in Los Angeles. However, we did implement an inclusive giveaway that everyone can participate in, whether you attended the conference or not!
For every $5 you donate to the Visual Resources Association by April 15, your name will be entered to win a year-long membership OR a 2020 conference registration (i.e. if you donate $15, your name will be entered three times). Two names will be drawn, and each winner will select which prize they prefer. The prize is fully transferable, so you can pass along your prize to a friend if you wish!
For every $800 raised, the Executive Board has pledged to offer an additional travel award for the 2020 conference! We have set an overall goal of $2400, with the hopes of adding three additional awards for travel to Baltimore. Please donate by clicking the link above to support this initiative and win yourself a membership or 2020 conference registration!
**Please note that due to restrictions on how we are able to allocate funding as an organization, any donations to the VRA Foundation will not be entered into this drawing.**
2019 VRA Foundation Project Grant: Call for Applications
Deadline: April 26, 2019
The Visual Resources Association Foundation (VRAF) 2019 Project Grant application period is now open. This grant program supports projects which reflect the VRA Foundation’s mission to advance education, research, and outreach in the field of visual resources and image management.
A single grant is available during the spring 2019 cycle with up to $3000 to be awarded. This funding may be used for a stand-alone project, a pilot or start-up financing for a larger project, or for a significant component of a larger project. In general, collaborative projects and those proposed by groups, whether or not affiliated with an organization or institution, are encouraged. In addition, innovative projects that result in a broader impact and be shared throughout the global community are of particular interest. Categories to be considered for funding include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
- Metadata for Visual Media
- Visual Media Cataloguing Standards
- Visual Media Data Standards
- Digitization Projects of special or unique collections (Educational Institutions, Libraries, Museums)
- Visual Literacy
- Technology Development for Visual Media Management and Pedagogy
- Intellectual Property Rights
The project must be completed within one year from the time the grant is formally accepted. The grant will be disbursed in two increments: $1500 at the start of the granting period, and $1500 pending the submission of a mid-project progress report. A final report, including a financial statement, on how the funds contributed to the project is due within one month of the project's completion. Failure to complete the proposed project may result in the grantee returning the funds.
More information about the Project Grants, including the application form and previous recipients, can be found on the Visual Resources Association Foundation website at: https://vrafoundation.com/project-grant/
For full consideration, please submit your application (https://forms.gle/wgJHo2CtvaR7FWmE9) by Friday, April 26, 2019, 11:59pm Pacific Time. The recipient of the VRAF Project Grant will be announced by May 10, 2019.
The VRA Foundation has United States Internal Revenue Service status as a 501(c) 3 non-profit entity. All elements of a proposed project must be performed within the legal parameters of United States local, regional, and federal government requirements. International applications are welcome from institutions or individuals provided applicant institutions have the equivalent of US non-profit status, and applicant individuals have a similar non-profit, educational purpose.
If you have further questions about the Project Grant Program or the application process, please contact the VRAF Board of Directors at vrafoundation@gmail.com.
On behalf of the VRAF Board of Directors.
Time is running out! Registration for SEI 2019 closes Friday, April 12
Time is running out! Registration for SEI 2019 closes on Friday, April 12, and we only have 10 spots left. Don't miss your chance--register today at https://seiworkshop.org/registration/
SEI 2019 will be held at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, from June 4-7, 2019.
A joint program between the Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA) and the Visual Resources Association Foundation (VRAF), the Summer Educational Institute for Visual Resources and Image Management (SEI) provides information professionals with a substantive educational and professional development opportunity focused on digital image management. SEI 2019 will present an overview of the digital life cycle, allowing attendees to “get their feet wet” in a broad range of topics, including:
• Project Design
• Intellectual Property
• Digitization
• Digital Preservation
• Metadata
• DAMs, Digital Curation, and Digital Repositories
• Instructional Design and Outreach
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. 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.
For more information on SEI 2019, visit our website: seiworkshop.org
Have questions? Please feel free to contact one of our co-chairs:
Lesley Chapman (lchapman@colgate.edu)
Courtney Baron (courtney.baron@emory.edu)
Follow SEI on Facebook and Twitter: @seiworkshop
VRA LA 2019: See you in Los Angeles!
The Executive Board and the Local Planning Committee do so look forward to welcoming you to Los Angeles next week! The weather forecast looks fantastic with sun and temperatures around 70 degrees. Please keep reading for some important last minute info, tips, and reminders.
Getting to the Hotel:
For options and details on getting to the hotel from the airport, Union Station, the Little Tokyo Gold Line Station, etc. please visit the recently updated conference site travel page.
Dinearounds:
Looking for an opportunity to meet new colleagues in a relaxed social setting and enjoy local cuisine? Four dinearounds have been planned for conference attendees on Thursday evening, with two group reservations at 7:00 pm and two at 7:30 pm. For a listing of restaurants, see Sched. Sign up at the Registration Table in the Golden State Ballroom Foyer before spaces fill up. Attendees will meet up in the lobby to walk together to restaurants and are responsible for the cost of their own food and drinks.
Tours:
Want to learn about the historical and cultural landmarks of downtown LA from the 18th century to the present? Sign-up for the Los Angeles Conservancy Walking Tour of Historic Downtown on Tuesday at 10:00 am. Be sure to check at the Registration Table in the Golden State Ballroom Foyer for any last minute availability in the engaging tours organized by the Local Committee.
Donate & Win:
For every $5 you donate to the VRA by April 15, your name will be entered to win a year-long membership OR a 2020 conference registration (i.e. if you donate $15, your name will be entered three times). Two names will be drawn, and each winner will select which prize they prefer. The prize is fully transferable, so you can pass along your prize to a friend if you wish!
For every $800 raised, the Executive Board has pledged to offer an additional travel award for the 2020 conference! We have set an overall goal of $2400, with the hopes of adding three additional awards for travel to Baltimore. Please donate to support this initiative and win yourself a membership or 2020 conference registration!
Grocery Stores,Pharmacies, and Print & Copy Centers:
These locations have been added to the conference map.
Fedex Print & Ship Center, 181 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Office Depot (Print & Copy Center), 401 E W 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Little Tokyo Pharmacy, 402 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
CVS Pharmacy, 201 N Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Marukai Market, 123 S Onizuka St. #105, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Whole Foods, 788 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Ralphs, 645 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
See you soon!
Contributors:
Krystal Boehlert
Local Planning Coordinator, VRA LA 2019
Lael Ensor-Bennett
Vice President for Conference Arrangements, VRA Executive Board
Amy McKenna
Public Relations and Communications Officer, VRA Executive Board
VRAB Spring Issue - deadline extended!
Dear Colleagues,
In light of the recently published VRA Bulletin Special Issue on Metadata (Cataloging Today: Enlarging the Sphere) we’ve decided to relax the deadline for our next issue which will now be published in June 2019. This means that we can reopen the call for content!
The new deadline for article submissions is Tuesday, April 30th!
We hope this will be especially welcome news to those of you presenting at spring conferences and organizing Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thons this month!
There are two ways to get started publishing in the VRA Bulletin:
1. If you’d like to run your article idea by the editors before getting started, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Content Editor, Hannah Marshall (marshall.hannah.marie@gmail.com)
2. If your article is written and ready-to-go, upload it directly to our online journal system by following these instructions
In addition to being openly accessible, the Bulletin now offers a hybrid peer-review model in which authors can select whether or not to have a submission peer-reviewed. If you’re interested in serving as a peer reviewer, please reach out to the Content Editor. Many thanks to those who have already volunteered!
This call is open to a wide variety of article types including but not limited to:
- Scholarly articles
- Case studies
- Editorials
- Reviews of books and other resources
- We particularly recommend this category for students and early professionals looking to get publication experience!
- Project updates
- Reports from working groups and professional organizations
Sincerely,
Hannah Marshall, Content Editor
Amy Lazet, Production Editor
Registration Open: Metadata and Management of Cultural Heritage Digital Media
The Visual Resources Association Foundation (VRAF) is pleased to announce registration is now live for “Metadata and Management of Cultural Heritage Digital Media: From Fundamentals to Future Trends” hosted by the Smithsonian’s Freer|Sackler Museum on April 26, 2019.
This one-day workshop will provide you with the background and tools to effectively organize, catalogue, and distribute your institution’s digital assets by introducing you to the core concepts of managing digital content. Participants will receive an overview of metadata standards, as well as how to manage, share, and publish digital content.
The workshop will be taught by Shyam Oberoi, the Chief Digital Officer for the Royal Ontario Museum, where he oversees the Museum’s digital and technology strategy. Before coming to the ROM, he was the Director of Technology and Digital Media at the Dallas Museum of Art, where he led the Museum’s digital and technical initiatives with responsibility for media creation, gallery interactives, technical services and mobile experiences. Among his successes was a multi-year project to comprehensively digitize every object in the DMA’s collection, and publish the entire collection online with extended scholarly content.
To register or read the full workshop description, visit here. The workshop fee is $125. If you have questions about registration, contact Beth Haas, VRAF Director, bwodnick@princeton.edu. For questions about the venue, contact Cory Grace, gracec@si.edu.
Please register by April 19, 2019.
The VRAF is grateful to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation for their continued support of this exciting opportunity to partner with cultural heritage and educational institutions.
VRA LA 2019: Walking Tours of LA & Beyond
Hope you signed up for some of the wonderful tours that the local planners put together for the LA conference. It’s not too late to add tours to your conference registration. Please contact the VRA membership services coordinator (join@vraweb.org) for assistance. These specially organized tours are filling up fast and are first-come, first-served, but there may still be room if you want to decide upon arrival, so check at the registration desk.
In your conference registration tote bag, you’ll find many goodies and a lot of information about local attractions, which are also listed on the VRA conference map. After you’ve worked on the historic map of LA jigsaw puzzle during session breaks, you’ll surely be inspired to venture out! If you are itching to explore on your own, you might check out some of these self-guided walking tours. We have also included a few that are docent led. Most are free, but check the websites for more information. And, if you are looking for a nature break, there are many hiking trails just outside the city, too.
- A good way to get familiar with the area around our conference hotel is to take this public-art-focused self-guided Little Tokyo tour.
- Some travel bloggers have designed thoughtful and comprehensive self-guided walking tours of Downtown LA, such as this one from A Globe Well Travelled, and this photographer’s DIY walking tour of DTLAfrom Explore Your Worlds.
- Walt Disney Concert Hall (the iconic Frank Gehry building) has a well-organized and accessible self-guided tour, complete with audio.
- The LA Central Library offers this self-guided tour (which you may want to print out in advance), as well as free daily docent-guided toursof this renovated 1926 Bertram Goodhue landmark.
- Metro Art Moves has free docent-led art tours of Union Station, Hollywood, Downtown, and the Gold Line (tours include TAP cards for the transportation portions).
- Angels Walk LA lists several self-guided historic walking trails in DTLA and beyond. They have comprehensive guides to download, and stanchions throughout the city as landmarks.
- The LA Conservancy, in addition to offering terrific organized guide-led tours, has a great list of self-guided tours you can print out in advance (including the Charlie Chaplin City Lights tour!)
- GPS My City is a useful app that lets you download walking tours by neighborhood. Some of the dozens of interest-specific tours include:
- Art Galleries in LA
- Museums in LA
- LA Architecture
- Movie Studios in LA
- Beverly Hills Leisure Walk
- They also offer many more offbeat tours such as Venice Beach Gawk and Walk and Hollywood: Raymond Chandler, as well as self-guided driving tours, such as The Best Thing I Ever Ate, LA!
- You can even create your own DIY Sightseeing Map!
- Free Tours by Foot offers self-guided tours of DTLA and Hollywood. (And, if you just have to do it, a self-guided driving tour of celebrity homes!) They also have pay-what-you-can guided tours.
- Real Los Angeles Tours offers several organized fee-based tours (such as DTLA Murder Mystery Ghost Tour) in addition to free self-guided walking tours of DTLA, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills.
- Downtown LA Food Tours offers a way to taste your way through the hidden gems and history of Los Angeles. These tours are guided and tickets range from $60-75.
- Hiking needs a bit of planning but is well worth it. Venturing to trailheads requires a car or intrepid use of public transportation, but if you have the time, you won’t be disappointed! Here are some of the most beautiful hikes in the LA area. Hiking enthusiasts can browse the HikeSpeak website for detailed information and trail reports.
Contributors:
Krystal Boehlert
Local Planning Coordinator, VRA LA 2019
Visual Resources Specialist, University of California Riverside
Maureen Burns
Development and Tour Coordinator, VRA LA 2019
IMAGinED Consulting and Archivision
Jackie Spafford
Local Planning Committee Member, VRA LA 2019
Image Resources Curator, History of Art and Architecture, University of California/Santa Barbara
VRA LA 2019: Community Partnership Event: Collaborate and Win
Join us for the Community Partnership Event on Wednesday, March 27 from 2:15-4:00 pm. Refreshments will be served and VRA members will have the chance to meet with VRA’s commercial partners as well as leaders of the Association. This one hour and 45 minute event will provide plenty of opportunities for conversations about products, projects, and information about how to become more involved in the work of the VRA.
How do I learn more? Want to publish in the newly open source VRA Bulletin? The editors can help you get started on an article. Want to learn about the work of the VRA Foundation? Talk to representatives about grants for interns, projects, and professional development. Have you been thinking about joining a VRA committee? Come talk to the people already involved. Maybe you are wondering about the Summer Educational Institute (SEI)... Representatives of the Implementation Team will be in attendance. Looking for a new tool or platform to catalogue and deliver content, equipment to capture collections, or libraries of stunning images? Our commercial partners will happily share their offerings.
What about those prizes? Talk to the representatives at the various tables to collect stamps and be eligible for the drawing at the end of the event. The prizes include exciting offerings from our commercial partners and items specially selected by the Local Committee to enhance your stay in Los Angeles.
And just who are these sponsors? Check out their websites linked below and come prepared with your questions.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
PLATINUM
SILVER
BRONZE
Contributors:
Amy McKenna
Public Relations and Communications Officer, VRA Executive Board
Chris Strasbaugh
Chair, VRA Development Committee