Happy New Year everyone. Can we still express that sentiment? Oh, I just did.
So, we’ve entered the third week of January and I’m guessing all switchers and projectors are contentedly purring away in the background and all staff are back in place, except for those of you taking extra-long breaks! You know who you are.
(As for me, I’m just behind the fir trees having a cuppa).
Well it’s 2018 and I guess resolutions are already coming under strain (the fitter members are still peddling in the Alps).
Here at AVCF World Domination Inc (TM) we move forward with renewed purpose (no sniggering at the back).
Our goals this year are simple:
- Expand membership
- Create interesting events including our second year in collaboration with RIBA/AV for the flagship IAV18 day.
- Grow regionally and get our message outside the South East. Expand membership
Expand membership
The first goal you can all help with in a very practical way. AVCF is free at present so no subscriptions, and as a platform to further the exchange of knowledge in all areas of our community having a larger membership base is very good. I often receive emails from members asking who best to speak to in the Forum for an honest impartial view or perhaps to visit a fellow member’s venue. That’s literally how all this began! We all work with teams, colleagues and support tech staff. Be an advocate for AVCF this year.
Our base would double even triple very quickly by having them sign up. I reassured a senior manager only last week that there is no danger of being overwhelmed with plugs for this and that. If you know me, you know that ain’t gonna happen
More members, more influence, more events. Just…more of everything. Ha ha.
Create interesting events including our second year in collaboration with RIBA/AV for our flagship IAV day
Things here are bubbling with plans for behind the scenes outings. Including visits to specialised screening venues, a recording studio, various museums and galleries and flagship venues.
Did I hear a faint echo concerning Bloomberg HQ on the ether? I think you did.
IAV18 which will take place on July 26th at RIBA (date for your diaries) will have some great keynote talks to inspire you, panel discussions and a great selection of manufacturers adopting a more laid back approach as they display and chat about their companies, direction of travel etc. Without any hard sell J
At present my rough notes on content for IAV day reads something like this:
Pepper’s ghost principles and staging/leadership/installation/eco-friendly/business models/artistic interpretation/4k DCI/analogue recording/Vinyl mastering/digital world/what does AI Really mean for us?
The list goes on. Our aim is to be eclectic so members can be exposed to insights which inspire thought, spark new ideas and approaches within the AV arena.
Grow regionally and get our message further the South East
We have some outliers already. Including some inroads in the US and Europe. But one of our UK members, namely Jon Harris of Birmingham Museums Trust, has agreed to help us raising our profile. I’m very excited to get a group of you together to see Jon’s empire in Birmingham.
Our member Steve Barrett-White has also mentioned the possibility of visiting the new RIBA North building in Liverpool, opened toward the end of 2017 and I am working away to enable a visit to Barco HQ in Belgium. Fingers crossed.
Mmm, what else? We’d like to congratulate our member Jo Saull on her new role at the Science Museum as Head of Gallery Services where I’m sure she’ll bring all her experience in project managing interactive AV and exhibition installation.
I can announce that I was invited as Chairman of the Forum to be a Judge for the inaugural AV Technology Europe Magazine Awards at ISE (where I hope I’ll see many of you). I’ve just completed all my tasks on that (phew) all I will say is the entries that made up the shortlist were very strong.
A big thanks to AVCF platinum sponsor, JacobsMassey, they are also sponsoring the AVTE Awards for the categories Personal & Team Excellence. Recognising the very people who drive our industry – people not boxes my friends.
This is a great endorsement for the growing profile of AVCF.
And while we’re all here we’d like to congratulate our member Jo Saull on her new role at the Science Museum as Head of Gallery Services where I’m sure she’ll bring all her experience in project managing interactive AV and exhibition installation.
On the subject of aims going forward a personal goal of mine is to create further opportunities for sponsorship, because folks, I rather like the idea of doing more. Just more.
I think we should take it up to 11. Rock on!
Well, I suppose I have to mention ISE..
You probably weren’t aware?
YEAH RIGHT!
I just love the overwhelming size of the thing really. I used to attend the San Diego ComicCon (geek me) which is massive but I think that ISE might possibly be even larger.
With ISE, unless I have a specific target of interest, I just wander around with my jaw dropped at the ever growing screen sizes and resolution specs of large scale displays. Same goes for the projector tech on show. But I do miss Extron at the front of the show.
Black box central.
ISE does afford me the chance to catch up with people I only see once a year and I like the vibe. Mind you I’ve only ever gone for one full day. Does anyone ever penetrate deeper into the vastness?
I bet you have, more credit you.
Finally our friend Artificial Intelligence
AI and all that.
Well the world at large drives trends and developments for all of us and all I know is my niece is already coding and is embracing the digital era and she’s only 8. However, I had the pleasure of being invited to this exhibition. So, if you’re in London before 23rd February you can see this fascinating, and free, exhibition at ARUP HQ at 8 Fitzroy Street. Small but beautifully formed.
https://www.arup.com/news-and-events/events/exhibition-spaces
Cheers all
Chris