Dear colleagues

This year will be concerned with not just the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, but also with issues such as digitisation, repatriation, and education in the archive and heritage sector. We also plan a project on family histories/clan names, following the excellent response to Mbongiseni Buthelezi's blog last month.

We hope you had a good holiday and would like to wish you all a very fruitful 2010, promoting professional, government and public communication to enhance the status and good management of archive and heritage resources in Africa. Our January update is just a short account of some of the news, opportunities, conferences and resources that have cropped up over the summer break. Our next full newsletter will be published on our website in February.

This month we have blogs on the declassification of archives, Zimbabwe’s work on intangible heritage and the role of the city museum.

Remember that we are offering book and cash prizes to young professionals who submit blogs, book reviews and other relevant reports for publication on the Platform. Please send submissions of around 1000 words, and a picture if possible, to newsletter@archivalplatform.org by 15 February, 2010.

If you have any queries or suggestions, please feel free to contact us. I will remain acting Director until our new Director is in place, and will continue to support the Platform’s work.

Best wishes,

Dr Harriet Deacon
Acting Director, Archival Platform
Email: harriet@archivalplatform.org

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Online records management forum launch

COR Concepts has launched an online records management forum, where all document and records management practitioners can participate in a vendor-neutral environment.

www.archivalplatform.org/news/entry/on-line_forum/

Looting cultural property a major problem

Illicit trafficking in cultural property is a global issue; in this article UNESCO and its partners continue to highlight and address the problem.

www.archivalplatform.org/news/entry/looting_increase/

US declassifies some of its historical archive

US President Barack Obama commits to declassify millions of pages of historical materials after issuing a new executive order governing classified national security information.

www.archivalplatform.org/news/entry/overclassification_of_state_archives/

Is Google good for history?

In a recent blog, Dan Cohen, director of the Center for History and New Media, applauds Google for being “probably the most powerful tool in human history”. He says “Google has been very good for history and historians, and one can only hope that they continue to exert pressure on those who provide costly alternatives.”

See the full blog at www.dancohen.org/2010/01/07/is-google-good-for-history/

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2010 US/ICOMOS International Exchange Program

US/ICOMOS offers internships in historic preservation within the United States and abroad during the course of 2010. This program provides unparalleled opportunities for early-career preservationists to gain hands-on experience in a country other than their own.

www.archivalplatform.org/news/entry/us_icomos_internships/

Fellowships in Japan

UNU-IAS and UNU-ISP offer PhD and postdoctoral fellowships to provide young scholars and policy-makers, especially from the developing world, with a multi-disciplinary context within which to pursue advanced research and training.

www.archivalplatform.org/news/entry/fellowships_in_japan/

Scholarship Program for PhD and post-doctoral studies in Sweden

Graduates from African countries can apply by 1 February, 2010 for PhD and post-doctoral scholarships to study in Sweden.

www.archivalplatform.org/news/entry/studies_in_sweden/

Scholarships for artists from Southern Africa

Pro Helvetia Cape Town facilitates studio and research residencies in Switzerland for artists from Southern Africa. Artists and cultural practitioners in the areas of the visual arts, music, literature, theatre and dance are eligible to apply. Applications for 2010/2011 can be submitted until 1 February 2010.

www.archivalplatform.org/news/entry/scholarships_for_artists/

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DAC workshops on archives and library training

During January and February 2010, DAC will hold stakeholder workshops on sector education and training.

www.archivalplatform.org/news/entry/archives_and_library_training/

NHC workshop on draft policy framework for the repatriation of heritage resources

11 February, 2010, Midrand

This workshop is an opportunity to critically engage with the draft policy framework content and to participate in developing the policy framework through facilitated discussion groups.

www.archivalplatform.org/conferences/entry/repatriation_of_heritage_res/

Harare International Festival of the Arts

27 April, 2010 to 2 May, 2010, Harare

Artists keen to participate please contact artists@hifa.co.zw before 31 January, 2010.

www.archivalplatform.org/conferences/entry/harare_international/

International Symposium on the future of Museum Climate seen in the context of Global Climate Change

1 March 2010, Copenhagen

How can we create exhibitions and expose our common cultural heritage in a sustainable and acceptable manner for future generations? How can museums be more carbon-neutral, while simultaneously guaranteeing an adequate indoor climate?

www.archivalplatform.org/conferences/entry/museum_climate/

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The Archival Platform is a strategic research, networking and advocacy initiative. We aim to promote collaboration and information sharing within the broad archive sector – including archives, museums and heritage, tangible and intangible – enabling effective dialogue between government, academics, practitioners and the public. Key areas of focus for the Platform in the medium term will include the economics of heritage, digitisation and use of digital tools in archives and heritage management, and heritage education.

Our networking efforts will reach out beyond South Africa, to elsewhere in Africa and other continents to expand this debate.

Entries for this newsletter come from lists such as South African History Online, the Southern African NGO Network, International Council on Museums and Sites (ICOMOS), Australia Icomos, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Council of Museums (ICOM), Icom-SA, the International Council of African Museums (AFRICOM), H-Net, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, Observatory of Cultural Policies in Africa (OCPA), Unesco Forum, the Getty Conservation Bulletin and your contributions.

Feel free to pass the newsletter on, and let me know if you don’t want to be on the list.

The Archival Platform is funded by Atlantic Philanthropies, supported by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the University of Cape Town.

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