AUDIO/VISUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD

First awarded in 2016, the New England Archivists Audio/Visual (A/V) Professional Development Award is given annually to promote the professional development of members in the areas of moving image, recorded sound, and time-based media. Upon completion of the proposed activity, the recipient will submit a report on the project to the NEA Newsletter and/or will present at the next annual NEA Spring Meeting.

Completed applications are due by February 15th. Applications are reviewed and the recipient chosen by the Audio/Visual Award Committee. Applicants are informed of the Committee’s decision no later than March 1st.

This award was underwritten in 2014 by a generous NEA member wishing to further growth and increase opportunities for members working with audio/visual media.

How to Apply

Applicant Eligibility
This award is open to individual and lifetime NEA members in good standing; the membership status of applicants will be verified by the Membership Secretary. Applications submitted by collaborating individuals are welcome. Institutional members are not eligible to apply. Individual members may not apply with the goal of furthering an institution or corporation.

Recipients cannot receive the award in more than one consecutive award cycle; therefore, the recipient from the previous award cycle is not eligible.

Elected board members are not eligible for the award during their terms in office and for one year after they leave the board.

Members of the Audio/Visual Award Committee are not eligible for the award during the application cycle in which they serve.

Application Submission
The application period begins in December, and completed applications are due by February 15th. Each applicant is permitted to submit only one application for an Audio/Visual Professional Development Award per award cycle; however, applicants may apply for other awards in the same award cycle.

Applicants may propose participating in or instructing an educational program or workshop, preparing a paper for publication or presentation, attending a professional meeting (at any time during the calendar year in which the award is made), or any other activity promoting professional development related to audio/visual work. The award cannot be used to purchase supplies or equipment.

Submit complete applications to RepAtLarge@newenglandarchivists.org with “Audio/Visual Professional Development Application” in the subject line.

Complete nominations will consist of:

A cover sheet including
- Applicant's name and contact information
- Applicant’s title and institutional affiliation (if applicable)
- Date of application
- Applicant’s signature
A brief essay (500 words or less) describing the activity the award would support and the expected benefits of the activity
A timeline for the completion of the project
Applicant’s current resume
A projected budget with total award amount specified

Incomplete nominations will not be considered.

Application Review and Recipient Selection
One recipient can be chosen to receive this award each award cycle. The recipient of this award will be chosen on the merit of their application, including submission of a realistic budget.

Applicants found not to be in good standing will be asked to renew their membership in order for their application to be considered. If membership is not renewed by a deadline set by the Audio/Visual Award Committee, the application will not be considered.

A simple majority vote of the Audio/Visual Award Committee will determine the recipient. Votes are submitted by Committee members privately to the Committee Chair, who compiles them and provides the Committee with the results. In the case of a tie, the President will cast the deciding vote.

If the Committee does not select a recipient from the applicants, or in the absence of applications, the award will not be made.

Applications for the Audio/Visual Professional Development Award will be considered independently from any other applications submitted by the same applicant to other NEA awards during the same award cycle.

Fund Distribution
The NEA Treasurer will present a check for the total amount of the award to the recipient at the Award Ceremony at the Spring Meeting (or will mail the check to the recipient if the recipient is unable to attend the Spring Meeting). In the case of a joint application, collaborators should select one individual to serve as the award check recipient. It is the responsibility of the collaborators to divide funds among themselves according to their needs.

Funds can only be used toward expenses specified in the application.

Previous Recipients

2024 - Stacey DiFazio (to complete the SAA course: "Arrangement and Description of AV Materials #2434").
2023 - Violet Hurst (to attend the "Fundamentals of A/V Preservation" course offered by the Northeast Document Conservation Center)
2019 - no award made
2018 - Amy Hietala (to participate in a "Fundamentals of A/V Preservation" course offered by the Northeast Document Conservation Center)
2017 - Fred Pond (to support article and presentation on the restoration of the film, A Vermont Romance)
2016 - Adam Schutzman (to attend the 2016 AMIA conference)

The Audio/Visual Professional Development Award began in 2016.

Procedures

Audio/Visual Award Committee
Applications are reviewed and recipients are chosen by the Audio/Visual Award Committee, which is appointed by the Executive Board annually prior to the start of the application period. The Committee is made up of:

the four (4) Representatives-at-Large on the NEA Executive Board (one serves as Chair)
two (2) NEA members in good standing (selected by the Committee Chair)
and one (1) member of the Moving Image and Recorded Sound Roundtable (selected by the Committee Chair); if a member of the Roundtable does not volunteer, an additional NEA member may be selected to fill the open position

In selecting the members of the Committee, the Chair should strive to create a committee that is diverse and inclusive, reflecting a range of tenure in the profession and NEA, geographical representation, gender, and professional practice.

Committee Files
Audio/Visual Award Committee files, including applications, are stored on NEA’s content management system and managed in accordance with the NEA Record Schedule.

Timeline

By November 1st, Communications Committee begins advertising the award.
By November 10th and at the request of Representatives-at-Large, Communications Committee solicits volunteers from NEA membership to serve on the Audio/Visual Award Committee.
By November 20th, Committee Chair submits final Committee selection to Membership Secretary to verify member standing.
Upon verification of membership standing by Membership Secretary, Committee Chair submits final Committee selection to Board for approval.
By December 1st, Board approves Committee membership.
By December 1st, Communications Committee begins advertising that the nomination period for the award is open.
By February 15th, all completed applications must be submitted to Committee Chair.
Within fourteen days of the submission deadline, Committee Chair announces recipient to Board and alerts applicants of decision. Committee Chair seeks permission from winner to acknowledge their receipt of the award publicly in print and at the Awards Ceremony at the Spring Meeting. Committee Chair provides award amount and recipient details to Treasurer.
At the discretion of Board, Communications Committee handles announcements and press releases.
At the Award Ceremony at the Spring Meeting, Committee Chair acknowledges recipient and Treasurer presents check for total amount of the award to recipient. If recipient is unable to attend Spring Meeting, Treasurer mails check.
When next annual Spring Meeting call for proposals is announced, Representatives-at-Large follow up with recipient about required submission of a report to the NEA Newsletter and/or presentation at the annual NEA Spring Meeting.

Updated 8/6/2015

Questions? Feedback? Contact the Representatives-at-Large at RepAtLarge@newenglandarchivists.org.