Apologies for cross postings:

                          Call for Papers

                       10 - 12 September 2003
                  King Alfred’s College, Winchester

You are invited to participate in the mda Conference 2003
Collections and Creativity. We welcome proposals for
innovative, inspiring and thought provoking papers from
those working with collections and those who use
collections. In particular we welcome proposals which
encourage audience feedback and participation from our
delegates. Please note that the conference will not be a
platform for a description of case studies or projects per se.

Proposals will need to address one or more of the following
themes:
* The direct relevance of the management of collections
    to their use.
* Creative ways in which collections are being made
    available to new users.
* New ways of working together to forge creative
    solutions.
* Influencing policy and strategy for the benefit of
    collections and their users.
* Collections and their users within the wider social,
    economic and political context.
* Involving users in the decisions made about collections
    and their management.

The conference will attract an audience mix of practitioners,
policy makers and users from across the breadth of the
cultural sector, so giving delegates the opportunity to view
the issues from a variety of perspectives. Delegates will go
away with a raft of practical ideas related to the
management and use of collections set within a robust
theoretical context. They will have the opportunity to listen
and contribute to agenda-setting discussions in the formal
conference sessions and in the informal and relaxing
breaks and evening events. Also note that this is the one
sector conference where exhibitors are an integral part of
the programme, enabling suppliers to learn from the day-to-
day experience of delegates as well as demonstrating their
products and expertise.

Please send 100 word paper proposals to Frances Bycroft
([log in to unmask]) with the following information by Friday 14
March:
* Name of proposer, including job title and institution where
    applicable.
* Title of paper.
* Topic of paper.
* Explanation of how paper fits the conference theme.
* Anticipated benefits of paper for the conference delegates.

Papers will be selected on the basis of appropriateness to the
conference theme and the overall quality of the proposal. Note that
speakers will be required to provide full papers for the Conference
Proceedings.

mda conferences are a must for the informed professional
who wants to keep up to date with the latest thinking.
Please note the dates in your diary and visit
www.mda.org.uk/conference2003/ for further details.

Louise Smith
Director
mda