The next FIAF Summer School will take place from June 10 to 28, 2002, and will be hosted and organized by the Motion Picture Department at George Eastman House in Rochester, New York. The course will be held on the Museum premises and at the Louis B. Mayer Conservation Center in Chili, New York, approximately 15 miles from Rochester. This follows the success of the Summer Schools hosted by George Eastman House in 1998, the NFTVA in 1992-1996, and after those held under the auspices of the DDR (East German) Film Archive.

The aim of the Summer School is to provide an intensive three-week training course for FIAF-member film archivists from all over the world who have some experience of film handling and archival practices. Some openings will also be available for television archivists who are members of FIAT. The course will embrace the history and philosophy of film archiving, but instruction will focus on the conservation of moving images, and the performance of essential museum activities such as acquisition, cataloging, access, programming and management. Instruction will be provided by the expert staff of GEH, supplemented by guest lecturers from FIAF and key practitioners in the film, television and video industries. The Summer School will provide transportation to and from the Museum and Conservation Center.

GEH aims to provide a pleasant learning environment for all students. The Summer School will supplement professional instruction with social events and local sight-seeing excursions. The Rochester area provides convenient travel facilities for exploring the region and making visits to New York City, Toronto, and Montréal.

There are 20 student positions available. The School encourages applicants from archives in developing countries, or those with poor resources and training. We expect that a number of these applicants will require help with their travel, accommodation and course expenses. Both FIAF and GEH have been seeking sponsorship funding for this purpose; nevertheless, applicants needing financial assistance can and should approach the United States Information Service in their country, as well as other national sources. The fee for the three-week course is $2,000 (US dollars): this covers accommodation, most meals, and all training. Travel costs are not covered.

The Summer School has worked out a detailed course program, including lectures, training sessions, demonstrations, and course-related visits. A list of proposed training/lecture subjects is enclosed, together with an information sheet and application form. A full program summary will be sent to all applicants upon acceptance into the school.

You are invited to submit an application on the enclosed form on behalf of yourself or members of your staff (please photocopy the form as necessary). If there are more applicants than places available, a selection will be made by GEH. If there are fewer applicants than places available, then we will seek qualified participants from a wider field.

Please send completed forms to Jeffrey L. Stoiber, George Eastman House, 900 East Avenue, Rochester NY 14607, United States (fax: 1-716-271.39.70). Closing date for receipt of applications: 31 December 2001.

Paolo Cherchi Usai
Senior Curator, Motion Picture Department
George Eastman House