the official publication of
The Australian Museum of Motion Picture & Television
(Inc.)
Preserving the proud heritage of Australia’s moving image industries for future generations
For a full colour, high quality copy of this publication, download from our website;
www.ammpt.asn.au
Edition Twenty Six July 2011
Re-defining our objectives
ne of the dangers inherent in any growing organisation is
forgetting to convey to the newer members the original
objectives upon which it was founded. Also regular
communication with and between its membership should be
foremost in the Association’s activities.
Mission Statement
The Australian Museum of Motion Picture & Television
(Inc.) (AMMPT)’s mission is to promote a greater public
awareness and appreciation of Australia’s contribution to
the continuing evolution of the film, television and related
media industries to which our nation’s unique social culture
continues to be influenced by exposure to them.
AMMPT pleads guilty on both counts.
Mandate
AMMPT’s mandate is to preserve significant objects,
document and publicly exhibit them throughout the
community to demonstrate the Australian contribution to the
development of the moving image and related media
industries from their inception to their ongoing evolution. To
advance its mission AMMPT will collaborate with existing
Federal and State Archives and Museums and support and
promote industry related displays by local government,
private archives, community museums and collectors. It will
also maintain and distribute its own collection and arrange
promotional events
We need to reflect on the reasons why AMMPT was formed.
In September 2004 there was very little opportunity for those
interested in the history of our industry to observe objects and
artefacts significant to its heritage. What had been preserved
was mostly held in the warehouses and other storages of
government archives and museums, or in the hands of private
collectors. most of which was not on display or readily
accessible to the public. The limited access and centralisation
of where displays were available meant that considerable time
and expense was incurred to view them – a fact not lost on
those living in Perth and other distant locations.
Originally conceived to preserve the heritage of Australia’s
cinema industry, AMMPT has evolved to reflect the realities
of life and subsequently embraced the television and related
industries. While this allowed a greater range of industry
personnel to be involved in our project, the administrative
infrastructure has not kept pace with its members aspirations.
This has been especially felt by the growing number of new
members joining from other regions. The tyranny of distance
and travel expenses has prevented the desired level of
establishment support for the members and new branches
being set up in these areas.
Strategy
AMMPT will locate, obtain and preserve, commensurate
with its resources, the widest possible range of appropriate
objects and information deemed necessary to develop
displays for the purpose of informing, entertaining and
educating the public. It will initiate interpretation programs
which highlight the technologies used, individuals, entities
and related services and to publicly exhibit them at its own
or its members premises or in collaboration with kindred
community or private museums.
Communication with members via our newsletter has been
sporadic, not due to the lack of information to be conveyed,
but by being unable to recruit a person take on the role of
editor. Our website potential has also been restrained by a
similar lack of volunteers to take on the responsibility of
maintaining a vibrant and relevant site. Discussions are now
taking place which should overcome this deficiency.
Members are urged to reflect on these objectives which
govern all the Associations activities. It also establishes paths
to which our energies should be directed and not distracted by
the many seemingly attractive side issues that may arise or
cause concern or conflict with similar entities or special
interest groups.
To enable the committees of established and new branches to
develop under a nationally standard set of procedures, an
Induction Manual has been prepared and distributed. This
document is also available to every member to peruse. Apart
from the National and Regional Constitutions therein, it
contains our By-Laws, Policies and Procedures as they exist at
the moment. The document is designed to be open to national
amendments and additions as new situations arise.
By creating a public awareness of our existence at community
level, this has resulted in an increasing number of donations of
objects, some of which the previous existence was unknown.
Coupled with the vast range of industry memorabilia and
artefacts held by AMMPT members who would like to
publicly display their collection but wish to retain ownership
and control over its exhibition, our association has a unique
opportunity, given genuine government and corporate support,
to involve the entire Australian community in learning of our
industry’s achievements.
Heading the manual is a definition of whom we are and where
we are heading. This establishes a focal point from which all
our activities are measured. In “
museum speak”
this is known
as our Mission Statement, Mandate and Strategy.
If the message eventually gets through to our politicians,
perhaps they will realise its value and give it more support.
O
