The ICA’s Photographic and Audiovisual Archives Working Group (ICA/PAAG) invites you to attend a virtual presentation of Lingua Franca: A Common Language for Conservators of Photographic Materials, an innovative bilingual eBook designed for photography conservation professionals and enthusiasts, on 23 October 2024 at 16:00 CET (Paris time).
Launched in 2017 by Library and Archives Canada, this resource provides English and French definitions, interactive features, and multimedia links on photographic processes, treatment options, and preventive care. Now in its third edition, with Spanish translations and an upcoming Portuguese version, Lingua Franca continues to expand its global reach. Learn more about the project’s evolution and its impact from lead conservator Tania Passafiume and multimedia specialist Tom Thompson. Don’t miss the chance to explore this invaluable tool in the world of photographic conservation.
More information about each of the presenters and their presentations can be found below.
KEY INFORMATION
Date and time
Wednesday, 23 October 2024 at 16:00 CET (Paris time). To confirm the date/time of this session in your time zone, please use the following link.
Language
English. No interpretation will be provided.
Date and time
Wednesday, 23 October 2024 at 16:00 CET (Paris time). To confirm the date/time of this session in your time zone, please use the following link.
Language
English. No interpretation will be provided.
This talk is free to attend and open to anyone interested. Registration is required to receive access details for the event.
SUMMARY
Launched in 2017, Lingua Franca: A Common Language for Conservators of Photographic Materials is a pioneering bilingual eBook developed in collaboration with the Atelier de Restauration et de Conservation des Photographies de la Ville de Paris. It became Library and Archives Canada’s (LAC) first English-French visual glossary of photographic conservation terms, encompassing six chapters of bilingual definitions of photographic processes, condition issues, treatment options, preventative care, technical studies, and provenance. The eBook features multimedia elements, including photographs, videos, and interactive tools, catering to conservation professionals, educators, students and anyone interested in the field of photography.
Since its debut, Lingua Franca has been a key resource for the international conservation community, reaching the top of Apple Books’ Free Photo Books chart in both its English and French versions. The second edition, released in 2018, introduced enhanced content and instructional PDFs. In 2021, Spanish translations were incorporated in collaboration with Fundación Comillas (CIESE-Comillas), further broadening its accessibility.
The ongoing development of a Portuguese edition, in collaboration with conservators from Nova University of Lisbon, private conservators and from Instituto Moreira Salles in Brazil, presents a unique challenge in adapting the content to different Portuguese dialects, ensuring relevancy for users in both Portugal and Brazil.
Guest speakers
Tania Passafiume
Tania Passafiume has been the Head Conservator of Photographic Materials for Library and Archives Canada (LAC) since 2005. After graduating in 1998 from Queens’s University Master’s in Art Conservation Programme; specializing in Photographs, Works on Paper and Books Conservation; she moved to Rochester, New York. It was in Rochester at the George Eastman House (GEH) where she remained for over three years, first participating in the Certificate Program in Photographic Preservation and Archival Practice and then as a Fellow in the first cycle of the Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in the Advanced Residency Program in Photograph Conservation (ARP). For the following three years, Tania was an Andrew W. Mellon Fellow, in Photographic Conservation at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Tom Thompson
Tom Thompson started working at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) in 2002, digitizing some of the incredible items from the LAC collections. Seeking to share some of the fascinating stories behind these treasures, he conceptualized and launched the highly successful podcast Discover Library and Archives Canada in 2012. Always looking for new and innovative ways to engage with audiences, in 2017 Tom brought interactive multimedia eBooks to LAC, publishing Lingua Franca: A Common Language for Conservators of Photographic Materials. In 2021, Tom launched another eBook, Nations to Nations: Indigenous Voices at Library and Archives Canada which provided Indigenous staff with the opportunity to recontextualize records in the LAC collection that held meaning to them, often challenging dominant narratives. In Fall 2024 Tom launched a new podcast series entitled “Voices Revealed” which highlights the vast collection of oral history recordings at LAC, from marginalized and underrepresented communities in particular.
Join us for this insightful session and explore the growing impact of Lingua Franca in the world of photographic conservation!
