Conference Proposal

San Diego BPG Business Meeting

In Sept, 1996, AIC received a request for support of the following conference. Sarah Rosenberg requested additional information from the organizers and then, in October, after consideration by the AIC board, passed the request to BPG. The funding could be either direct grant, a loan, or a contribution to the-conference publication. This proposal raise some of the same issues as the publications requests.

Conference Title: Chainlines and Watermarks: Paper Evidence in Western Art
Conference Organizers: John Slavin, John O'Neill
Program Support: Toronto Area Conservation Group, University of Toronto Centre for the Book, Toronto Area Archivists Group, Canadian Association of Bookbinders & Guilders
Venue: Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
Tentative date: Spring 1999
First call for papers: July, 1997
Papers to be published in full before the conference
Sponsors: IPC ($2500), CAC (Tentative $2500), CCI (publication support)

Excerpts from the proposal:

Description: A three day conference/workshop program featuring an international group of speakers describing recent research in the analysis, history and usage of paper by artists and the significance of this research in the interpretation of their work. Presentations will cover historical contemporary western papers--European and North American.

Each of the first two days will consist of seven presentations and one panel discussion period. The third day will consist of two investigations outlining the methodology of paper 1historians' investigations and its significance and application in the study and preservation of fine art on paper. Two instructional sessions will follow where a variety of interesting antique papers will be examined by the participants. Special audio visual equipment and displays will be used and the audience will be encouraged to participate.

Targeted audience includes art educators and students, art historians, artists, conservators, dealers and collectors, curators, archivists, bibliophiles, librarians, papermakers.

Program goals:

To educate the audience abut the nature and significance of paper supports used in the fine arts.
To promote understanding of the importance of preserving the character and integrity [of] artists' papers.
To bring together a rather diversified audience with a shared interest and encourage the exchange of perspectives and information.
To use conference promotion, publicity, publications, and associated programming to raise public awareness of the importance of paper in our cultural history.
To use all aspects of the program to promote a greater sensitivity and higher regard for the research and preservation of paper-based collections within the arts community at a time when economics is subverting this goal

Recent update: The first call for papers is going out in July and all sponsors will be mentioned. If the BPG agrees to be a sponsor we would like to have a member participate on the panel selecting speakers for the conference, or perhaps doing some editing for the publication. There will be an IPC and a CAC member with appropriate expertise on this panel.

Meeting Action:

Vote on

(a) whether to support the conference and/or its proceedings and, if so
(b) whether support be in the form of a loan or a grant
(b) the dollar amount

Gather suggestions for guiding principles in considering future requests for funding of "outside" conferences and publications.