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By Christine Michaut - February 2003
This column aims to provide news of the European Commission's initiatives in the field of digital heritage and cultural content. Its objectives are to pinpoint the latest developments in programmes, projects and activities and to give a clear picture of progress in the area since the last issue. It certainly does not pretend to be a comprehensive account of what the EC is doing in the area but rather a short summary of some of the key items.
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Our unit here in Luxembourg would like to wish all Cultivate readers a Happy New Year. The new year has already brought some changes and will no doubt ring in many more: in the process of restructuring of our Directorate, our unit was given a new title: "Preservation and Enhancement of Cultural Heritage". On 17 December 2002 the first IST call under the sixth Framework Programme was published [1]. This will bring substantial changes, as the call stems from a new workprogramme (2003-2004 [2]) and the instruments [3] and procedures of the new Framework Programme are quite different from those operated during the last Framework Programme.
The last issue of our electronic newsletter eCulture [4] put together the most important information on the new Framework Programme.
In order to spread the news as widely as possible, we already organised one information day in November and have just run a second on 27 January [5]. The aim of these information days was to provide an opportunity for you to learn about the expectations the Commission has for this first call and also obtain first-hand information on the new procedures.
Another meeting entitled "Mapping the Future" brought together participants from projects receiving Commission funding under the previous Framework Programme. The meeting took place in the Luxembourg Commission Building "Jean Monnet" on the 28th January. Its objective was to refine further research roadmaps setting the perspective for the 1st call and to facilitate networking of researchers. The days included one-hour presentation sessions organised around five topics with speakers from different backgrounds - industry, SMEs, research, institutions, etc.
As you may know, the Danish Presidency came to an end this December. Greece has taken over the presidency [6] for the coming six months and research as well as the Information Society seem to be among the priorities. A site on "Research and Innovation Information Service" is already online [7] . We are looking forward to very fruitful work under this presidency.
Our unit is planning two big meetings in collaboration with our projects. The first meeting is organised by TRIS and is aimed at promoting and fostering the exploitation of the results of 25 Take-up Trials launched in 2000 under the Action Line "new access modes to cultural and scientific content". The conference will be the final event to conclude two years of TRIS work on co-ordination and support for the 25 trials seeking to increase their cultural, scientific and commercial impact and exploit their results effectively. TRIS, which will end in October 2003, has now entered the second phase of its project activity focusing on the exploitation of the trials, supporting them with the production of business plans and with the promotion of their results. Details on this event can be found on the TRIS homepage [8] as well as the official invitation issued by TRIS [9].
The second event is EVA 2003 which will take place in Florence [10]. EVA stands for "Electronic imaging and the Visual Arts". This year's first conference will be dedicated to "Il Nuovo Rinascimento" ("The New Renaissance") and will take place from 24-28 March. The key aim of this event is to provide a forum for the user, supplier and scientific research communities to meet and exchange experiences, ideas and plans. Participants receive up-to-date news on new EC and international arts computing and telecomms initiatives as well as on projects in the visual arts field, archaeology and history. Working groups and new projects are promoted.
The third event is MILIA Cannes (26-28 March) where our unit will be represented with its own information stand.
The European Commission has published this guide to the Sixth Framework Programme which is intended as a source of information and assistance to people and organisations wishing to find out more about the programmes and activities included under FP6.
It gives an overview of the fundamental aspects of the objectives and mechanisms of FP6, and is intended as a reference manual rather than an exhaustive guide. This guide is available electronically [11].
This is Digicult's "Thematic Issue 2", issued in December 2002. It highlights the fact that a cultural heritage organisation's ability to harvest, re-use and realise the value of its assets will only ever be as good as the mechanisms that it can put into place for the storage and retrieval of assets from the media vault. It concentrates on the question of how cultural and scientific heritage organisations could enhance their mission-related activities by using a new breed of technologies called Digital Asset Management System (DAMS).
The study is available online in low or high resolution or in paper version (please contact John Pereira [12] ).
Also issued by our DigiCULT Project: DigiCULT.Info - the 2nd issue of their newsletter [13]
(Key Action Line III of the IST programme in the European Union's 5th RTD Framework Programme)
Factsheets from all the projects run under the 5th Framework Programme have been published online and will also be available as an interactive CD-ROM, which will include video showcases from ten projects [14].
Our "Diffuse" Project (Dissemination of InFormal and Formal Useful Specifications and Experiences) [15] held its Final Conference on Brussels on 12th December 2002. The objective of the Diffuse Project was to provide a single, value-added, entry point to up-to-date reference and guidance information on available and emerging standards and specifications that facilitate the electronic exchange of information. European Commissioner Liikanen, responsible for Enterprise and the Information Society gave a speech entitled "Convergence of Web Services". Our next issue will give you a detailed report on this Final Conference.
The latest business guide published by "Diffuse" for the Dissemination of Informal and formal Useful Specifications and Experiences to Research and Technology Development Communities is the Diffuse Guide to Virtual Reality. After a brief history of the development of virtual reality systems, the guide explains the role of the three standards used to integrate this industry, the Virtual Reality Markup Language (VRML), VRML 97 and the recently proposed Extensible 3D (X3D) language, which includes an XML representation for virtual reality systems.
For five days in April 2003 the Pulman-XT Project [16] will hold three training workshops for Public Library Managers and Senior Librarians from Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, F.Y.R.O.M. (former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), Moldova, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). This will be hosted in three centres of excellence: Helsinki (Finland), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Veria (Greece).
The purpose of the three workshops is to provide training and first-hand experience of new developments for public library managers in countries or areas where policies and implementation are less advanced. They also aim to encourage the cascading of workshop findings by the participants. The workshops will focus on management, project management, ICT, communication, international co-operation and new skills in librarianship but will also touch upon topics such as public service, special user groups and library buildings too.
Another highlight of the PULMAN XT Project will be the policy conference in Oeiras in Portugal on 13 and 14 March 2003. The policy conference will be a platform for high level policy makers and decision makers from 36 countries across Europe to share experiences about delivering services locally in the information age. Regular information on the programme will be available on the Pulman site [17], for example, invitees, speakers and so forth. So watch this space!
Successful completion of the European Treasury Browser Project paves the way for the new European Learning Resources (ELR) service starting 2003 [18]. The European Treasury Browser Project, completed in October 2002, was instrumental in consolidating an operational infrastructure for centralised access to educational resources submitted by repositories across Europe. This has enabled the European Schoolnet to open up a new European Learning Resources (ELR) service based on the key achievements of the ETB project. This project was funded by our Unit in the IST programme.
To address issues of interoperability between digital image collections and other important resources of digital cultural information such as digital library collections and the emerging semantic web, ARTISTE supports amongst other topics open standards for information retrieval. There are therefore two new interfaces to the public system, the first using the Open Archives Initiative Metadata Harvesting Protocol, and the second using the Z39.50 Search and Retrieve Web Service.
The project has now issued an open invitation to use these points of access to ARTISTE. The project particularly welcomes your feedback on accessing the ARTISTE system through these new interfaces [19].
Born of exemplary co-operation between the Council of Europe and the European Union through the "HEREIN" Project, the European Heritage Network [20] is intended to bring together those European authorities which work in the cultural heritage sector. Accessible via Internet, the network is the only heritage information system of its kind. If offers:
Last but not least I would like to mention the move of our colleague Patricia Manson to the post of Deputy Head of Unit for Technology-Enhanced Learning. We shall all miss her here but would sincerely like to offer our: Félicitations!
Good luck to everyone in 2003
Christine Michaut
Information & Communication Officer
Preservation and Enhancement of Cultural Heritage Unit
Email: christine.michaut@cec.eu.int
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For citation purposes:
Michaut, C. "DIGICULT Column", Cultivate Interactive, issue
9, 7 February 2003
URL: <http://www.cultivate-int.org/issue9/digicult/>
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By Richard Waller - February 2003
Richard Waller reports on the Autumn project meeting of the CULTIVATE-EU and CULTIVATE-CEE Projects.
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On a crisp and clear Monday morning in the old quarter of Vienna, a persistent stream of visitors made their way into the magnificent interior of the Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture [1]. They had come for two days of meetings which would culminate in the final review of the CULTIVATE-EU and CULTIVATE-CEE projects. In the large chandelier-dominated Audienzsaal with beautifully preserved decoration, we were greeted most warmly by Mr Peter Seitz of the Ministry who expressed his government's unreserved support for the aims of the projects and who was most keen to ensure that the participants from all over the CULTIVATE partnership map felt welcome.
This was a very positive start to the work of two days (7-8 October)in which partners were able to discuss current and future issues for the projects and ensure that the review of the next day would run as smoothly as possible. Robin Rickard of the British Council, Warsaw, chaired the first day's project meeting and whilst giving all participants the opportunity to make their contribution, ensured that the business of the day proceeded apace and efficiently.
Jorun Hesjedal of RBT reported on progress of the Archives Libraries and Museums contacts list and the press releases, newsletters and leaflets it had disseminated. She also described the work done a user validation survey as well as a Web tutorial now available covering useful Web sites for libraries, museums and archives interested in the EU and the framework programmes.
Rosalind Johnson reported on behalf of Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries and its subcontractor CILIP with regard to the E-list [2]. Resource subcontracts work on the Cultivate-list to CILIP. Membership of the list is slightly over 600. A number of members left in February and March 2002 following two incidents with message loops. This technical problem was rapidly fixed by UKOLN. She reported the following statistics:
In my turn I gave a brief report on the work of Cultivate Interactive [3] which covered its content, output and our support for Cultivate Russia.
Henriette Kurschel spoke of the document database on behalf of CSC Austria. Its main functionalities are management of data and production of printed or electronic publications. She explained that the Document Database is presently designed for expert users, i.e. CULTIVATE members. CULTIVATE members have all user rights for management of XML documents. There are plans for adaptation of database functionalities for public end users.
Dincho Kraschev's report on Bulgaria referred to the effectiveness of its website. Judy Buchnik, Israel, reported that she would be involved in the IDEALIST booth at IST 2002 in Copenhagen. Klaus Reinhardt reported that Germany planned to be active in FP6 and would have 3 staff looking after libraries, museums and archives. Henriette Kurschel described the extensive activities of the Austrian node. Bronislaw Zurawski described the activities of the Polish node and noted that meetings were underway with the 3 relevant ministries in relation to sustainability. Wladyslaw Stepniak described an international conference organised by the State Archives in June 2002. Dan Matei described work in Romania, including work on sustainability, translations, meetings and broadcasts. Jorun Hesjedal described activities in Norway and drew attention to structural change underway in RBT. Sidsel Hindal would be the main Cultivate contact in Norway in future. Peter Dippold explained that there is a new government in Hungary but that activities continue in relation to sustainability, reaching out to museums and collaboration with other project, including Pulman. Sanita Berzina reported on improvements to the Latvian website. Trine Nielson reported that she was taking over for Cultivate in Denmark where a new National Museums Authority has just been established. She mentioned the recent NAPLE conference and the establishment of a NAPLE organisation. Jana Souckova reported on recent developments in the Czech Republic where the node had been active in developing its website and email list, in liasing with archives and in influencing the development of the "Culture on line" programme to which a future Cultivate would need to relate in the Czech Republic. Rosalind Johnson made a report on behalf of the UK Node Resource and its subcontractor CILIP. Resource adds value as needed in the UK which is well served by generalist functions such as UKISHELP.
David Fuegi, CULTIVATE-CEE Project Manager, reported that Cultivate Russia was about half way through its lifespan. The first issue of the Russian version of Cultivate Interactive had just been published. 20 provincial meetings were planned and an end of project international conference would take place in April 2003 [4].
Later in the meeting David reported on the results of the sustainability questionnaire, which he had circulated. 16 countries had replied. There appeared to be strong support at government and professional level for a successor project. Support was very strong in CEE countries and Russia. There was an encouraging amount of common ground between respondents on what might be needed. EU countries seemed to want mainly the international activities of the network, CEE and Russia wanted both international and local activities. David thought that one message from the questionnaires was that the new Cultivate should be more flexible.
Walter Koch of CSC Austria continued the discussion providing his thoughts on a possible approach for the future of the CULTIVATE organisation. Axel Szauer, European Commission Project Officer, reminded the meeting that only the first call would provide opportunities for cultural heritage and that projects would probably not start before the end of 2003.
David Fuegi reminded everyone that Cultivate CEE terminated at the end of March 2003. It was planned to hold the final meeting of the project in Sophia, Bulgaria 1st-4th March 2003; Local organisation would be provided by Dincho Kraschev. Although Cultivate EU would have finished, members of that network would also be welcome to attend. Members of both networks were requested to put the dates in their diary. A cultural programme and networking opportunities would be included. David and Dincho would produce a draft programme as soon as possible and inform the network.
The preparations for the following day in terms of presentation order and timings, ably managed by Klaus Reinhardt, CULTIVATE-EU Project Manager, after the formal meeting, served to ensure a smooth-running annual review [5]. The participants had an opportunity to meet again in the evening, thanks to the hospitality of the Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture. It was not only very pleasant for me to meet at last a number of people with whom I had been in email correspondence, but also to listen to people's experiences, challenges and hopes for the Project. As the success of the following day was to testify, much had been achieved. For some of us so gathered together, there was a moment of considerable thoughtfulness: for we, the children of the Cold War, could but remark that such successful co-operation, mutual aspirations and collective endeavour would have been inconceivable even 15 years ago.
My thanks to David Fuegi for providing me with a lot of the material for this article.
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 |
URL: <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk>
Email: cultivate-editor@ukoln.ac.uk
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For citation purposes:
Waller, R. "CULTIVATE Meets, Vienna October 2002", Cultivate Interactive, issue
9, 7 February 2003
URL: <http://www.cultivate-int.org/issue9/viennaproject/>
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By Richard Waller - February 2003
Richard Waller provides an eye-witness report of the review process and an overview of the evaluators' findings.
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The third annual review took place on Tuesday 8th October in another magnificent room of the Austrian Ministry for Science, Education and Culture. Alex Szauer of the European Commission chaired; the two reviewers were John Fitzgerald and Hervé Le Guyader.
The process broke down into four stages: partner presentations, evaluators' questions, evaluators' deliberations and finally the transmission of their findings. In all 12 presentations were given, by the two Project Managers, Klaus Rheinhardt (EU) and David Fuegi (CEE), the five technical partners, (including myself on behalf of UKOLN & Cultivate Interactive) plus three EU node and two CEE national node representatives.
It is quite possible that the Powerpoint presentations by quite a large number of individuals might have appeared something of a marathon. However, everyone, whether they knew it or not, owed a debt of gratitude to Klaus Reinhardt for his work on rationalising the enthusiasm of all presenters by paring down, with their agreement the previous afternoon, the content of their presentation to ensure that the review did not overrun. So brutal decisions had been made and carried out, with the result that evaluators received the completely essential information and no more. The presentations ended within a minute or two of the planned time.
David Fuegi pointed out to the evaluators that, as they had noted last review the paucity of national node representatives, he was pleased to be able to introduce all 18 representatives. Hervé Le Guyader was particularly keen to hear from the Bulgarian representative, Dincho Krastev, and other CEE partners about what they thought of the network. Their comments were most positive, detailing the benefits they had derived from the project.
Eventually the session closed to allow the evaluators to confer. Then began the waiting in, literally, the corridors of power, whilst the evaluators will have re-read parts of the evidence submitted, considered responses and recalled items from presentations. Never an easy time one would imagine, though I noted a quiet confidence on the part of those experienced participants who had seen this sort of thing before.
That restrained optimism certainly seemed justified when all participants were recalled to hear the evaluators' initial findings, which, though only verbal, could safely be taken as an indication of the content of their formal report. The news was good; the projects were performing satisfactorily, had notched up some solid achievements and overcome previous difficulties.
Of course one of the major advantages of hindsight is when you can quote the actual outcomes in detail rather than attempt to recall from memory and scribbled notes what was said at the time. Below I detail excerpts from the evaluators' reorts which, as you will see, paint a very positive picture indeed. Below I detail highlightsfrom the evaluators' reports which, as you will see, paint a very positive picture indeed, both of CULTIVATE-EU and of CULTIVATE-CEE:
In summary, the [EU] project has achieved excellent results to date (reviewed at month 20 of 24). The quality of the material produced to date is excellent and the achievements of the project are considerable and wide-reaching.
In summary, the [CEE] project has achieved excellent results to date (reviewed at month 18 of 24). The quality of the material produced to date is excellent and the achievements of the project are considerable and wide-reaching in all of the states concerned.
As one can see from even just highlights, both projects have managed to impress reviewers and what they had to say about the future of the CULTIVATE projects was also heartening:
... it is nevertheless this reviewer's perception that solid chances exist to see the Cultivate network, as a whole (EU, CEE and Russia) play a key role in FP6 Network of Excellence priority.
The rationale for this perception is twofold:
... but a strong potential exists for a new project, built upon the experience of the most committed partners of the three components of the Cultivate concept.
... Clearly the main deliverables of this project will require to be maintained if they are to be of continuing use, namely the WWW site, the e-zine, the discussion list and the ALM contact list, etc. The inclusive approach to sustainability, including all three CULTIVATE projects is commendable as the CULTIVATE name possesses significant positive "brand" value in the European/CEE/Russian cultural heritage sectors. ...
There can be little doubt in anyone's mind after reading such positive remarks that the evaluators were impressed with the work of the projects. The most telling comments in my view have been those remarking on the efficacy of the combined approach of CEE and EU projects over a number of matters and the improved chances for sustainability if they work together to ensure the CULTIVATE movement, 'brand', whatever we call it, makes further strides. Certainly from Cultivate Interactive's standpoint, the support and encouragement received from both projects have been instrumental in its own success throughout the project's lifetime.
|
URL: <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk>
Email: cultivate-editor@ukoln.ac.uk
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For citation purposes:
Waller, R. "Cultivate Annual Review, Vienna October 2002", Cultivate Interactive, issue
9, 7 February 2003
URL: <http://www.cultivate-int.org/issue9/viennareviews/>
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