The ICA Global Archive Project (GAP) is rolling out a new service over the next few months. We intend to have operational by September:

• A process for accessing materials describing ICA programs and research arenas from the past fifty years

• A process for both maintaining and adding new materials to this resource from around the world

• Ways to invite our networks of new colleagues to explore and make use of this resource

We’ve chosen to call this – somewhat audaciously – the Year of the Virtual Global Research Assembly (VGRA).

Several of these collections have been started and are in various stages of completion. Here’s a picture of some of the collections proposed or currently underway:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1W5M6EKiIZmR3dXaXNQZWZSRWs/ edit?usp=sharing

For a sample of what a collection can look like, check out this one on the 5th City Community Development Project, which ICA began in the early 1960s: www.wedgeblade.net/wordpress/fifthcity

In September, a number of us will gather in Chicago for a two-week Spring Sojourn. By that time, we hope to be working with many of you. We’ll be trying out the best ways for the newly formed collection teams to work together. We’ll experiment with online presentations and conversations that those of you not physically in Chicago are nonetheless invited to be part of. This will be preparation for ongoing online activity during the subsequent months, leading to the culminating VGRA event in September. This is our proposed calendar and timeline for the next few months: GAP Proposed 2014 Timeline

Consider this your invitation
Like to be part of a team creating one of these collections? You can. In helping us test online tools for streaming live events, holding online discussions or working together remotely on these great materials? That too. In designing the September event? Why not? All you need is a laptop or tablet and an Internet connection, and you have many ways to participate in this Year of the VGRA.

If this is of interest to you, sign up for our VGRA updates and progress reports; tell us which arenas of ICA’s work you feel need to be made accessible and where you might plug in to this venture yourself. You can indicate that here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15BOKEThM 4QnsAWMGQLHSolcFPuGV8p3VXJYBL0Rx1Zw/edit?usp=sharing

We’ll be in touch as this project unfolds. Welcome to the Year of the VGRA!

Jack Gilles, Gordon Harper and Jim Wiegel on behalf of the ICA Global Archive Project.