Call for Applicants – Connecting Communities + Cultures: The Vital Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums in the Arts

September 14, 2017

Submission Deadline: October 1, 2017

Libraries, archives, and museums are vital hubs of activity that facilitate education and community building, and function as keepers of public memory. They collect, exhibit, and make available heritage materials that catalyze imagination, cultivate knowledge, and solidify our understanding of our shared cultural histories. By safeguarding and providing access to cultural artifacts, libraries, archives, and museums provide the space and resources that encourage us to question our assumptions, preserve and confront the past, and challenge our perceptions of a canon. Publications, ephemera, and graphic and audio-visual materials connect audiences with heritage and the arts in dynamic ways, contributing to media literacy and ensuring the continued relevance of the arts in society. The collections and holdings of these institutions are not mere repositories, but rather living memory and potential sources of discovery and inspiration for a new generation of creators and public alike.

Committed to serving the wide-ranging needs of diverse audiences of all ages and backgrounds — from toddlers to senior citizens, from students to professionals, and from researchers to creators/artists — the staff of libraries, archives, and museums is passionate advocates for sharing the untapped resources of their collections. Their role as protectors of information can be undervalued in the larger arts and cultural sector. Many institutions are entering a time of sustained transition, finding new ways to collect, exhibit, and provide access to holdings. Library and archives staff are, in fact, the brain trust of artistic practice; their mandates, and their labour, support the health of the arts.

Connecting Communities + Cultures: The Vital Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums in the Arts is a two-day symposium as part of TIFF’s Reel Heritage initiative that offers professional development sessions for emerging librarians, archivists, and students looking to enter the field. The symposium invites the next generation of library, archives, and museums professionals to examine the essential role that these institutions play in the arts and cultural heritage in Canada. We seek applications from emerging professionals with one to four years of experience from small to mid-size libraries, archives, historical societies, and museums, as well as current students enrolled in related programmes. The symposium will have 15–20 participants and will take place November 20-21, 2017 at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto and will feature a two-day programme of educational sessions, keynotes, and site visits. This opportunity provides participants with round-trip travel within Canada and accommodation for two to three nights in Toronto.

The symposium will encourage participants to consider their professional development in relation to self, organization, and field in the following areas:

• Communication and Outreach Strategies: Skills-building on topics related to achieving organizational buy-in, collaborating across your organization, activating your collections and holdings across communities, and communicating with clarity about the importance of libraries and archives to key stakeholders;
• Library and Archives Leadership: Conversations related to career development that draw on participants’ passion for arts, culture, and heritage;
• Building a Network: Support building among peers from like-minded organizations from across the country, with shared interest and expertise in the field, regarding best practices and resource sharing.

TIFF intends to shape breakout sessions based on the participant feedback we receive as part of the application process.

Launched in November 2014 as a joint initiative of TIFF Higher Learning and the Film Reference Library (FRL), Reel Heritage educates audiences about the importance of the preservation of film and moving image–based collections in our communities. Reel Heritage brings post-secondary students together with film scholars, archivists, filmmakers/artists, and curators in a series of free educational sessions that examine the challenges and the opportunities facing moving-image collections in Ontario and beyond. To learn more about TIFF’s Reel Heritage initiative, visit tiff.net/reelheritage.

Eligibility

1. Must be an emerging professional with one to four years of work experience at a library, archive, historical society, or museum in Canada; OR
2. A Canadian college or university student currently enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, a library, archives, or museum studies–related programme.
3. Selected candidates must agree to adhere to the “Terms of Participation” outlined below.
4. As part of TIFF’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the Canadian film and media industries, we encourage and prioritize applications from diverse groups. We encourage you to self-identify in your application.

Application Components

To be considered, applicants should supply the following:

1. A resume or C.V.
2. A Statement of Interest of no more than 250 words describing your current role, what motivates you about working in the library, archives, and/or museums field, and how this symposium will be of benefit to your career.
3. Brief responses (no more than 100 words) to the following short-answer questions:
   A. In what skill areas would you benefit from more professional development or mentorship?
   B. Identify two challenges that you see for library, archive, and museum professionals in Canada.
   C. How and where do you see opportunities for libraries, archives, and museums to engage with community members?
4. One (1) letter of support from your public or educational institution, a faculty member, or a previous employer who recognizes the value of this symposium to your career development and growth. References must state how long they have known the applicant and in what capacity, and should articulate the potential benefits and opportunities that may arise from the individual’s participation.

Selection Criteria

The following criteria will be used to determine participant selection:

1. The value of the conference to the individual’s career and personal development, as demonstrated by the Statement of Interest;
2. Demonstration of participation in or contribution to the arts, library, archive, and/or museum community through work, volunteering, and advocacy;
3. The potential for your participation to have practical benefits for your library, archive, or museum, or the general arts community, as demonstrated by your short-answer responses and the letter of support provided by a reference.

All applicants will be notified as to the status of their application by Friday, October 13.

How to Submit & Application Deadline

Applicants: Visit tiff.net/reelheritage to gain access to the application form. We strongly encourage applicants to draft their Statement of Interest and short answers in advance, as you will not be able to save progress when populating the online form. The deadline to apply is 5pm on Sunday October 1.

Referees: Please submit your letter of support as a PDF or Word document (we do not accept Cloud hosting or filesharing programs) by 5pm on Sunday October 1 to hlf@tiff.net. Please indicate the name of the applicant as well as “Reel Heritage Symposium” in the subject line.

If you have additional questions about submitting an application, a letter of support, or about the Reel Heritage initiative more generally, please reach out to hlf@tiff.net.

Terms of Participation

1. The symposium will take place in Toronto at TIFF Bell Lightbox, Reitman Square, 350 King Street West on November 20 and 21, 2017.
2. It is expected that selected participants will be available to travel to Toronto for the entire duration of the symposium, including required travel days.
3. Participants are expected to participate in all aspects of the symposium and complete any of the required readings provided by speakers in advance.
4. The programme will cover round-trip travel to Toronto, within Canada, and two to three nights of accommodation.
5. Participants will be required to liaise with a TIFF representative regarding travel and hotel arrangements, as well as other administrative details related to symposium planning.
6. Participants will be responsible for all other expenses during non-symposium programming.

All applications are considered confidential.

TIFF is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities and will work with applicants to meet their needs.

TIFF is a charitable, not-for-profit cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. Its vision is to lead the world in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image.

TIFF is generously supported by Lead Sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC, L’Oréal Paris, and Visa, and Major Supporters the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the City of Toronto.

Reel Heritage is supported by the Government of Canada and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

To learn more about Reel Heritage, including past Reel Heritage events, visit tiff.net/reelheritage.