As discussed in the recently concluded 14th South East Asia-Pacific Audio Visual Archive Association (SEAPAVAA) Conference and General Assembly, New Caledonia has been chosen as the host country for the 15th SEAPAVAA Conference. Noumea was chosen for the next conference because the members recognised the need for SEAPAVAA to understand, to reach out to and to represent the Pacific regions. The Association had not held a conference in the Pacific regions since it was founded, and with Noumea’s proposal, SEAPAVAA will be able to affirm its commitment to the region it covers. This decision is however subject to whether we can find enough members to attend the general assembly in 2011, as next year will be an election year for SEAPAVAA too.
In preparation for the 15th Conference, we would like to share with you some of the information we have gathered so far regarding airfare, travel expenses, and the conference fees. Please note that these are just estimates.
Airfare from Asia to Noumea (with stopover in Brisbane): approximately 1000-1200 usd
Hotel Accommodations: 70-90 usd/ night
Registration fee: 200 for members; 300 for non members
We are currently looking for funding institutions who could subsidize some of the expenses so hopefully the costs will decrease in the following months. We would like to know get your feedback regarding this as your attendance to the conference is of utmost importance to us. Not only will this be the first time that SEAPAVAA will hold a conference in the Pacific, but also because 2011 is elections year for SEAPAVAA.
Kindly email your response to the following inquiries to infoseapavaa@gmail.com as soon as possible. We would need to know:
1) if you are interested in attending the conference
2) if you think you can secure travel funding from your institution and
3) if you will attend the conference in Noumea if transportation from Brisbane to Noumea was provided, (Asia-Brisbane 700-1000 usd; Brisbane-Noumea 200-300 usd)
Below are some of the images of the ADCK Cultural Centre and a bit of information regarding Noumea:
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia’s main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island’s European, Polynesian (Wallisians, Futunians, Tahitians), Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians, Ni-Vanuatu and Kanaks that work in one of the South Pacific’s most industrialised cities. The city lies on a protected deepwater harbour which serves as the chief port for New Caledonia. Nouméa, the capital, is also the seat of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
The Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Nouméa was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano with the concept of celebrating the vernacular Kanak (also, Canaque) culture of New Caledonia. The centre is composed of 10 units called “cases,” all of different sizes and different functions, but with the consistent form of vertically positioned shell-like structures which resemble the traditional huts of a Caledonian Village. They were given a deliberate “unfinished” appearance as a reminder that Kanak culture is still in the process of becoming – a belief held by the deceased Canaque leader, and inspiration for the site, Jean-Marie Tjibaou.
We hope to hear from you soon! Your response is of great value to us!