Thursday, June 19, 2008
Nominations are now being sought for the Jodi Awards 2008. The awards are for museums, libraries, archives and heritage venues that use technology to provide access to collections and learning for disabled people, e.g. websites, interactive objects, audio-guides, personal digital assistants (PDA) and virtual reality shows.
This year, for the first time, museums, libraries, archives and heritage venues in Scotland are eligible for the Jodi Awards, thanks to the support of Museums Galleries Scotland, the Scottish Libraries and Information Council and the Scottish Archives Network.
Museums, libraries and archives in England and Wales continue to be eligible for the Jodi Awards, thanks to ongoing support of MLA, who launched the awards in 2003 during the European Year of Disabled People and the Welsh Assembly Government, who joined the initiative in 2006.
Joanne Orr, CEO, Museums Galleries Scotland said:
“The Jodi Awards exist to make museums, libraries and archives, their collections and learning resources accessible to disabled people through the use of technology. Its is fantastic that we now have a UK wide partnership which will enable the Jodi Awards to develop their full potential, widen its reach and to serve disabled people irrespective of country borders.”
Matthew Cock, Jodi Awards Chair and Head of Web at the British Museum, commented: “We are thrilled by the enthusiasm and support we have received from museum, library and archive bodies in England, Wales and Scotland for our plans to serve disabled people and create a charity that promotes accessible multi-media. We are also delighted to launch a new award for excellence for people with a learning difficulty. We are not creating a new ghetto though – all nominations of projects aimed at people with a learning disability will also be entered in existing award categories. People with a learning disability need a higher profile.”
The award categories are:
The deadline for nominations is Friday 3 October 2008, and the awards will be announced at a high profile event on Friday 5 December 2008 at the British Museum. Full information on how to apply is available at: www.jodiawards.org.uk.
Notes to editors:
1. The Jodi Awards are managed by a newly-formed association which is currently applying for charitable status under the name ‘Jodi Mattes Trust’:
Matthew Cock, Chair, mcock@thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
Jon Pratty, Secretary, jon@culture24.org.uk
Ross Parry, Treasurer, rdp5@leicester.ac.uk
Marcus Weisen, Manager, marcus.weisen@blueyonder.co.uk (check new email address from September on www.jodiawards.org.uk)
2. The Jodi Awards are named in memory of Jodi Mattes (1973-2001). Jodi worked as part of the British Museum's COMPASS team, and then at the Royal National Institute for the Blind.
At the British Museum, Jodi worked to ensure that the British Museum's COMPASS website (live in June 2000) was as accessible as possible. She also specified desks in the Reading Room that were accessible to wheelchair users.
The Jodi Awards were initiated in 2003 by former colleagues of Jodi Mattes, supported by MLA, the Museums Computer Group (MCG) and the Department of Museum Studies of the University of Leicester. Today’s call for nominations coincides with the annual conference of the UK Museums Computer Group – UK Museums on the Web 2008. Visit: www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk .
3. The Jodi Awards aim to put the user at the centre. Nominated websites, interactive objects, audio-guides, PDAs, pass before an experienced panel of judges, of whom half have a disability. Disabled assessors will assess short-listed entries. Nominees are requested to provide information about how disabled people were involved in the project.
4. Museums Galleries Scotland is the lead body for the funding, development and advocacy of over 340 museums and galleries in Scotland. They are the recognised representative of and advisor to a membership which includes all 32 local authorities, 162 independent trusts, 7 regimentals, 9 universities and 3 national collections.
5. Designedforall undertakes automated and user testing free of charge for the Jodi Awards. Visit: www.designedforall.com
6. Culture24 hosts the Jodi Awards website. It is the umbrella organisation that publishes the 24 Hour Museum and Show Me websites. The organisation is now working in close partnership with MLA and the Collections Trust.
