[CREATE] Decision for LGM 2011 venue — Action required

[Femke Snelting]

Dear Louis, dear all,

> We have proposed guidelines that should help us make a good choice for
> 2011 but that also lead us into the process for 2012 and beyond.
> http://create.freedesktop.org/wiki/Conference_2011
>
> We need the input from the Teams and from you.

Here's the Brussels team speaking! In addition to what Stéphanie and Alexandre wrote earlier, we wanted to confirm that our team is ready for LGM 2011 in Vietnam. After discussing amongst OSP and Constant, we are convinced that this is a brilliant invitation and we would be very happy to accept and have LGM in Asia next year. We are much interested in the Brasil proposal, but would love to meet you all there another time (great to find out about a local edition of LGM and even better to have LGM Brasil turn into LGM International at some point in the near future!). The Montreal bid comes across equally strong as the one for Vietnam, but the opportunity to take LGM elsewhere next year is just too great for us to let pass.

> *What we ask here is to review the bids in the light of the guidelines,
> make sure you have all of them covered, and post your answers or
> questions here.*

We trust the local team, we are not worried about our safety, hygiene nor comfort and both (confirmed!) venues seem great. As for travel distance, this obviously means different things depending on where you come from. In addition, OSP actually enjoys long journeys as these are rare opportunities to be together in a concentrated manner (the distance-inconvenience-factor works out a bit differently for us ;-)) especially if they bring us to and from intense events such as LGM.

We seriously looked at the travel costs for our team. Even if we take a delegation like in previous years, it would end up being around 200€ per person more expensive than a ticket to Canada; Brazil turns out more or less the same as Vietnam. But since cost of living and lodging will be less expensive we think we can make it work, especially if we stay for a longer period. As for the total LGM 2011 budget, it is hard to say, but with a clear target and everyone's commitment it should be possible to gather the money we need.

One of our main concerns is the ability to connect to cultural producers out there, and it is not easy to discern such energy in a proposal. But it got us thinking about ways to meet with Vietnamese artists and designers and we ared working on a plan to work in Ho Chi Minh city a few weeks before the event. We could help the local team with the organisation, and meet up with professionals and students to see what connections to make that can last beyond LGM 2011.

We see a huge potential for LGM to grow and deepen which tends to turn each 'concern' into a 'challenge'; in our excitement we become even more determined to take them on. In the same spirit, we will of course find a way to make any LGM venue interesting and worthwhile :-) but first of all we are motivated to take LGM to Vietnam!

All the best from Brussels,


Alexandre, Femke, Harrisson, Ivan, Ludi, Nicolas, Pierre, Pierre, Seb, Stéphanie & Yi