Free Canberra Forum: Opening Australia's Archives

Here's the details:

The Institute for Creative Industries and Innovation, the Creative Commons Clinic and Creative Commons Australia invite you to a free workshop and discussion forum Opening Australia’s Archives

Date: 25 August 2009, 11:30am-5:00pm

Venue: National Library of Australia, King Edward Terrace, Parkes, Canberra

Digital technologies have drastically changed the landscape of creating, collecting and providing access to cultural materials. As linear models of knowledge and cultural production are supplanted by more distributed, collaborative networking models, Australia’s cultural institutions are increasingly seeking to engage with their audiences in ways that capitalise on these new capabilities. In this environment, traditional copyright management models can present a significant barrier to realising the full economic and social value of a collection. As a result, archives internationally are exploring the potential of open access distribution models.

This half-day forum aims to bring together representatives of Australia’s cultural institutions to:

• identify the benefits and disadvantages of providing open access to cultural collections;
• document models of access currently being used by Australia’s collecting institutions;
• identify barriers to providing broader access to collections;
• gauge the level of interest in a coordinated sector-wide approach to access policies and practices; and
• develop a plan for improving government policy on access to cultural material.

It will build on discussion undertaken at a preliminary meeting held at Old Parliament House in Canberra on 24 May, 2009, and will generate practical outcomes including best practice guidelines, proposed collaborative projects and a detailed advocacy strategy.

Facilitators: Professor Brian Fitzgerald (Professor of Intellectual Property and Innovation, Queensland University of Technology), Jessica Coates (Project Manager, Creative Commons Clinic) and Professor Phil Graham (Professor of Communication and Culture, Queensland University of Technology)

RSVP: Please RSVP by 10 August to Jessica Coates at j2.coates@qut.edu.au or on ph: 07 3138 8301

The forum is free to attend and lunch will be provided.