|
Marianne Honders
in Malta |
Well, with
the first Convention in Amsterdam in 1977 the founding committee
wanted to create a forum where fine art handlers from all
over the world would get together to discuss the business
in general. Another objective
was to build up a more personal relationship with the people
behind the voice on the phone by meeting them in person.
The first conventions were attended by the company owners and
general managers, but after a few years, they started to
bring their staff members as well. They realized
that if they met their colleagues from around the world
to discuss complicated projects or existing problems
in an informal setting, this had a positive impact on the
daily working situation.
After the
first few Conventions, ICEFAT - which was in fact nothing more
than the Convention itself - was known all over the world
and from then many fine art packers and shippers wanted to join
‘the club’. However, this was not a matter of simply
registering for the convention - it was by invitation only. This
is why I don’t think the founding committee aimed
at becoming significant in the way ICEFAT is today. When
ICEFAT became an Association in 2000, companies could apply
for Membership and since then we have been receiving numerous
requests for Membership. Only very few are accepted after thorough
examination of the applicants’ profile and references.
How have you seen our businesses change as a whole over
that time?
I’m afraid I cannot give a very professional answer to
this question - after all, I’m not in the daily business.
But what I have seen is that most of the companies, who
were there in 1977, still exist today. Some companies have merged
with others or were acquired by larger companies but still operate
under their original names, but I would say this means
that they coped very well with the growing demands of their
clients.
How
have all the technologies that have developed over the past
32 years changed how ICEFAT and our industry works?
When it comes to technology and its impact on daily work: at
first, I resisted email and the internet; I found it impersonal
and would rather hear a person’s voice on the phone. But
that was only for a short while: after I sent out my first 3-page
document to all 75 Members just by a mouse-click - I loved it.
My gosh, by fax that took me at least 2 days if I was lucky!
That has
been the impact of technology developments for my job...
Within your companies, you’ve all had the same experiences
but to a much greater extent. Information exchange at all levels,
GPS, computerized storage, image transmission, what have you!
It’s going fast, fast, fast! And it’s a continuous
process that you have to keep up with constantly.
What are the most positive changes you’ve seen
in ICEFAT over the years? What do you think encouraged those
developments?
Personally, I think the most positive development within
ICEFAT is the growing commitment of our Members to contribute
to its success by joining one of the Sub-committees. Our Membership
Committee and the Newsletter Committee have been very active
for many years now, last year the Best Practices Committee wrote
Guidelines for Commercial Fine Art Storage which was very well
received. The Finance Committee drew up Payment Guidelines between
Members, and our youngest Sub-committee is the Environmental
Committee or “Green Committee” as we prefer
to call them, are enthusiastically working on setting up Guidelines
to help make our Members work more environmental friendly. They
will present their first program during our Convention in Cape
Town in September 2009 and we are all looking forward to learning
what they have achieved so far.
And, of course, ICEFAT has had inspiring Steering Committees
throughout the years, ensuring that ICEFAT is directed toward
the best interest of all Members. I think that the positive
and open minded conduct of the Organization is the best
encouragement for our Members to invest their time to help make
ICEFAT more and more professional.
Then, another major development is the promotion of ICEFAT as
an organization with our clients. Our financial support
of Registrars events, both in the US and in Europe, as well
as the ICEFAT representation at the AAM MuseumExpo, for
7 years now, have greatly contributed to the recognition of
ICEFAT as a professional organization with Museums all over
the world. Just recently, one of our Members was asked for advice
by a US Registrar about a fine art shipper. She was asked to
work with this company by an overseas Museum, but she wasn’t
sure if it was okay since this company wasn’t an ICEFAT
Member!
What do you think makes ICEFAT special and why has it
been so successful?
I think as I said before, the commitment and investment of our
Members for the benefit of the entire Organization combined
with the strong belief that we have high quality Members
is what makes ICEFAT successful.
And special? ICEFAT is just a great group of companies with
an open and transparent culture of getting along with each other!
How do you think the organization will continue to change
in the future? Where do you see ICEFAT going from here?
I’m not sure if ICEFAT will change that much in the future!
Obviously, its professionalism will grow - there are plans to
write Guidelines for areas such as Packing + Crating, standard
facility reports, etc. People will come and go within our Member
companies, a natural process which will have its impact on how
ICEFAT will develop further. It’s hard for me to
say where ICEFAT will be in the next decade, but I’m confident
that its principles will remain throughout the years.
As the ICEFAT Secretary, you have attended every convention
and have become very well travelled, can you tell us about a
few of your favorite conventions so far?
Wow, this is the most difficult question! All conventions were
special because they were the highlights of the year for me,
and there are quite a few of which I have great, mostly personal,
memories, but to mention just a few, here we go:
Amsterdam 1977 - the start of a great job, Santa Monica 1992
- so relaxed, Sydney & Cairns 1995 - what a great country,
Cancun 1998 - with my 13 year old son - we had such a good time,
Amsterdam 2000 - the start of the new ICEFAT after an exciting
year, Prague 2001 - right after 9/11 with many cancellations
but still 85 participants, such a warm ambiance in uncertain
times and … where I shook hands with Mr. Bill Clinton!
Then in Lima 2002, with a post-convention honeymoon, Istanbul
2006 celebrating ICEFAT’s 30 year Anniversary, Florence
2008 with over 200 participants. Well, this is just a quick
recap and I realize I’m not doing justice to all the other
great places we went!
Again because you’ve become such a globe-trotter
you must have picked up some tips and tricks for successfully
travelling in so many different cultures and countries. Got
anything really good to share?
Sure: Enjoy every minute and you’ll go home richer than
you came!
Putting aside ICEFAT for a moment, how about you? What’s
the next adventure for Marianne?
First of all, I’ll have to get used to not being
involved with ICEFAT anymore, which feels like an adventure
in itself! Although I’ve been transitioning
out since the beginning of this year, it’ll be strange
not having to check my email in the morning. Judith has
taken over most of the work already and she’s doing great,
so I’m enjoying a relaxed Summer, but still there
is that urge that has become part of the daily routine that
I have to let go! But otherwise, I’m really looking forward
to my ‘new life’! No fixed plans yet, but I’m
a certified mediator, so I may start a small practice, I registered
for a furniture upholstering course - quite different, isn’t
it? I’d love to work at this great bookstore in the nearby
town, I’m in the board of our tennis club and we’re
facing a huge project with the renovation of the surface of
all courts this winter, so that’ll keep me off the street
for a while.
And you know what, I may even have mornings that I wake up and
think: what shall I do today? Doesn’t that sound great?!
Nicole Bouchard, Operations Manager
Crozier Fine Arts, New York
TECHNOLOGY
TIMELINE
