Edited Digest of Support Messages 110-
110
In reading the latest email from the group I see that there are only
THREE trustees of the Museum, and it has never been incorporated, so
they alone bear the brunt of support. Can that be that true? Am I
reading this correctly?
Here in America Museum boards incorporate immediately, if they mean to
stay alive... and there are always more serving as trustees or board
members than just three individuals. And why are not the names of these
trustees public knowlege? Are they not held accountable for how they
are managing the museum? Mystified in America,
Marjorie Wilser
111
The minutes look fine to me. Hope ... that the TMS moves forward in a
suitable fashion. ... look forward to hearing more in due course about how
we help save the Museum. Are you likely to have an Open Day soon at the
Museum? If so, I hope you can give as much notice as possible.
Judy Thursby
112
As far as I can see the Type Museum is in a perfect position to raise
funds, in fact it should probably go commercial to a certain extent as
the collections are the means of revenue. You have letterpress,
monotype and other 'dead' forms of printing technology. What do they
have in common? The ability to produce finished, high value products
that have that unique quality that modern production techniques cannot
reproduce. You also ahve very influential famous friends in the world
or design and typography. Why not combine the two to create some fund
raising collectables?
Idea 1 - limited edition letterpress publication, maybe a short story,
signed by the author, Will Self springs to mind as you near neighbour
and a gloomy observer of the destructive march of time. Look at what
the London Review of Books has done recently with its limited editions
of Julian Barnes and Alan Bennet - sold out in no time.
Idea 2 - to make a high mark-up (charge an extortionate amount) it has
got to be highly desirable to the lunatic collector. How about a
letterpress 12" record cover for a group that would appreciate the
industrial/traditional qualities and has a good fan base. Talk to the
people at Artomatic who have laods of experience here, and just to grad
the headlines try to interest a designer who would never normally go
anywhere near letterpress or print - somebody with a repuation for the
cutting edge. Would make a good story for Blueprint and the Saturday
supplements.
On the latter subject, get the Guardian in to do a Saturday mag feature
asap. Good luck.
Paul Shackleton
113
As of yesterday 31.05.2006 it appears that there will be no more public
access to the Museum. No new statement has been issued but the Type
Museum Society was forced to find an alternative venue for it's meeting
last night 31.05.2006.
Tim Martin
114
Here are just a few ideas to dicuss.
A -- Possible actions to raise funds for the TypeMuseum:
1 -- TYPE SPONSORS/GUARDIANS
Last Wednesday I proposed the launch of a "type-guardianship" (sponsorship)
to Howard [Bratter, the Type Museum Director] be sponsor of a
typefamily/font size possibly various levels of sponsorship: from 1 tray
(min) to a whole super family.
Is it possible to estimate the average cost to keep 1 tray / family of type
in good condition for a year?
also: the perfect gift -- we had goats and scalpels -- now there is the
perfect gift for type lovers: a type-guardianship for a year (or even life
time -- with this option your name will become linked to the font-tray) and
get your name set in lead.
Leading donors (pun intended) can also find their names on the outside wall
of the museum -- set in hot metal in the typeface they sponsor, their names
become a "living" (growing and weathering) sculpture.
2 -- COPYRIGHT ISSUES
How is the copyright situation regarding typeface reproduction?
Which collections could be digitized (at least partially) and sold, whereby
part of the revenue goes straight to the Museum.
We
2a -- need to find a fontlabel that is willing to cooperate.
2b -- need to set up a fontlabel ourselves.
We also need to find a copyright lawyer to look into the whole rights issue
before starting production .
3 -- TM FONT
3a --
Create a typeface for the TypeMuseum. Competition (for publicity). Maybe
various categories? Kids, students, professionals?
Get well known designers, or celebrities involved -- magazine coverage (?)
3b --
Even choosing single symbols of different type faces and publishing them in
one font could be enough. Sell cd and a booklet (could be printed in-house
on letterpress) eg this Aldus leaf was chosen by insert famous designer
here, followed by a short paragraph as explanation.
3c --
FOOTBALL SEASON -- why not use the wood type football symbols? publish in
font and print posters, t-shirts &c?
4 -- USE PRINTSHOP
I heard health and safety issues might be hindering this operation. Until
those are resolved the printshop -- is it possible to print there, if so,
who could do it?
Use the existing printshop to produce greeting cards, posters, &c to be sold
as part of the fundraising campaign. Places to sell: design museum, V&A,
Science Museum, Tourist gift shops, Paperchase (they import letterpress
greeting cards from the US) -- and the Type Museum of course.
Offer bespoke print runs.
The Museum is in the unique position to print its own stationary, ads, &c --
make use of it!
B -- other actions to be taken:
5 -- TYPEFACES/LANGUAGES OF LONDON = TYPEFACES/LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD
Awareness campaign: almost every typeface used in almost every language in
the world is linked somehow with the collections in the TypeMuseum in
London. This links computer fonts and their technology back to old
technology and craft. This is the chance to prove the relevance of the
existence of the TM in London.
Andreas Pohancenik
115
I'm a student at the Royal Academy of Arts in the Hague, Netherlands
graduating the graphic&typographic design department in a month...
I visited the typemuseum last year and was very impressed
I am sorry to hear what is happening and hope there is light at the
end of this tunnel
As a student, my funds are quite limited, but in a month from now i
can surely volunteer for any design work, campaigns or websites that
you might need. Best regards, and best of luck
David Benqué
116
I am in the US. My father is a printer and started a printing
technology program at a junior college here. He is since retired but
has been a printer for 55+ years. He started on a linotype and was
teaching computer typesetting on a Compugraphic. I did typesetting
also. I am now a teacher but printing is part of my family. If there is
anything we can do to help we would be glad to. I just ran into this
accidently when I was doing a web search. I think it is wonderful. I
would hate to lose something as valuable as a Type Museum. What about
doing something with "etaion shrdlu"? You probably already know but
those were the first two lines on the linotype machine. They were used
when a mistake was made to finish out the page or to show end of story.
Every now and then the printer would forget to take it out and "etaion
shrdlu" would show up in the newspaper. People would talk and wonder
who "etaion shrdlu" was and during WWII there was even an investigation
to see if it was a communist code. There was a movie made called
"Farewell Etaion Shrdlu" over the last running of the New York Times on
a linotype. There are lots of discussions and debating over whether
those are actually the most used letters. Someone has even done a
computer program (that may or may not be finished, somewhat like pi or
DNA mapping) that is searching for the most used letters. Anyway, if
there is something we can do here please let us know. If you do start
using the printshop put it on a website and we will steer people that
way to purchase things.
TJBP
117
Hi, I'm an advertising student in the US, and I feel that the power or PR
will play a major part in rescuing the Type Museum.
I can help in writing press releases, backgrounder/bio, letter to the
editor, news article, etc. - of course with help from someone that is more
experienced than me.
Getting something released and distributed is one thing, but getting the
right audience to cover the story is another. I would be more than happy to
collaborate with advertising/PR members in the group.
I also like the idea of opening a typefoundry. It's very plausible, since
we're all typophile and type designer ourselves.
Bram Pitoyo
118
Sorry to hear that the Type Museum is in trouble. It is a shame really. I am
living in Munich right now and will be studying in the US from September on.
... I hope that you somehow can manage to keep the Type Museum running. I
really enjoyed volunteering for you!
Philipp Rumpf
119
We, NOMAD INK STUDIO from Brazil, agreed: "Let's make this international
petition asking the Uk authorities for the
free home for Type Museum!!" (Andreas Schweizer).
Visiting London last year we had the opportunity to get to know the
fantastic Type Museum...
The design community from Latin America, in special Brazil, we are all
paying attention in what is going on with the beloved Type Museum.
Long life to TYPE MUSEUM. Best regards / Flávia and Tyler
Flávia S. Johnson
120
I`m Jko Contreras from Chile, Tim wrote somo post in our blog, and we dont
speak english (this is hard work to translate!) We dont know how to help
from our continent, please send us information, if someone in your society
speaks Spanish can be very useful. I have several contacts from the spanish
speaking community in South America. The bienal letras latinas (a
Latinamerican encounter on typography took place this month in all Latin
America, maybe the contacts from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and other
countries can be useful!
Jko Contreras
121
The trustees of the Type Museum recognise the concern expressed among
its community of friends and well-wishers regarding the future of the
Museum, and wish to make it clear that, although it has been necessary
to close the Museum for legal reasons, the trustees, staff and other
responsible bodies all remain committed to the Museum's well-being.
Careful consideration of the issues involved takes place continuously
as part of the normal activities of the Museum. Because these
discussions are continuing, it is not possible to determine the
specific resolution to which they will come. Until the completion of
these discussions, any conclusions drawn by those not taking part are
necessarily premature and speculative, and could be prejudicial to
their outcome.
The trustees welcome the present public interest in the Museum and
acknowledges the depth of support elicited, but they also hope that
credence will be reserved for those officially appointed and legally
entrusted with the duty of safeguarding and preserving the Museum and
its collections.
Type Museum Trustees Statement (Release:2June2006 23.14)