Audiovisual Training Coalition
Definition and Aims
Established in December 2006, the AUDIOVISUAL TRAINING COALITION (hereafter ATC) has an overall objective of representing the interests of independent organizations devoted to transnational training, development and research for the audiovisual industry.
The specific aims of ATC are to function as:
- a lobbying structure to support and represent the interests of its members.
- a forum to share expertise and good practice, information, common concerns and interests.
- a source of collaborative partnerships, including trainer exchanges.
- a creative resource pool, a high-level think tank and research group.
ATC also has short and mid-term goals related to the MEDIA Programme:
- The total amount invested for "Acquisition and improvement of skills" within the MEDIA Programme from 2007 to 2013 (52,5 million Euro) should be increased to 10% of the overall amount for implementing the MEDIA Programme (750 million Euro).
- The foreseen investment (7,5 million Euro per year) for "Acquisition and improvement of skills" should be restricted to professional training. Support to initial training should be financed with additional resources.
- The financial gap for 2008 (3 million Euro) should be filled in order to avoid a disintegration of the professional audiovisual landscape established so far.
- An "Innovation Fund" should be established to stimulate research about professional training and the improvement of professional training programmes.
- The multi annual contract should be reintroduced.
- The administrative and financial processes should be simplified and unified.
- The Executive Agency - Education, Audiovisual and Culture (EACEA) should become a competent partner, offering transparency and qualified expertise.
- ATC should be seen as the leading organization representing independent professional training in Europe and therefore an appropriate source of consultation and discussion with MEDIA.
Activities
Lobbying
ATC members will lobby:
- Members of the Cultural Committee of the EU Parliament.
- Members of the MEDIA Committee.
- National politicians acting on European level.
Cooperation
ATC members will cooperate with:
- MEDIA Programme.
- State funding bodies and film institutes.
- Professional associations and audiovisual companies.
- Broadcasters.
Research
- Training outcomes.
- Development successes.
- Professional career records.
- Innovative forms of assessing training and training programmes.
- New cooperation models.
- New services for the film industry.
- Interaction with film schools.
Information and Networking
- Regular meetings
Conditions and Rules
Membership conditions
ATC international membership is limited to independent training providers with a minimum of a 2-year proven track record in transnational professional training within the audiovisual industry.
Delegates to ATC meetings must be heads of organizations who are mandated and who hold decision-making power. Decisions made through ATC members are valid unless overruled by their respective boards. The heads of organizations may appoint another delegate within their own organization to attend meetings in their place, as and when appropriate.
New membership must be accompanied by recommendation of at least one of the existing members.
If they wish to do so candidate members can attend an initial ATC meeting prior to making a final decision on membership and paying the annual fee.
Members wishing to resign from ATC must inform ATC of this decision in written form. Membership fees already paid cannot be refunded.
Fee
Annual Fee: 500 Euro
The membership fees will be invoiced to each membership organization at the end of March and must be paid before May 1st of that year. Failure to pay the membership fee by this date will result in loss of membership.
Heads or organizations and/or other delegates to ATC meetings will cover their own travel, subsistence and other expenses.
Rules revision
The rules can be revised with approval of 2/3 of the members of ATC.
Delegation - Working Group of ATC
- Sophie Bourdon, Director and Head of Studies ACE - Ateliers du Cinéma Européen (France)
- Alan Fountain, CEO and Head of Studies EAVE - European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (Luxemburg)
- Rolf Orthel, President SOURCES 2 (The Netherlands)
- Agnieszka Marczewska, Programme Director EKRAN, Andrzej Wajda Master School (Poland)
- Frank Stehling, CEO transFOCAL and Head of Studies P.R.I.M.E - Packaging Rewriting International Marketing Exchange (Germany)
- Pierre Agthe, Director FOCAL - Foundation for Professional Training in Cinema and Audiovisual Media (Switzerland)
Lausanne, January 2007