Day two at the FIAT/IFTA World Conference 2017 in Mexico City started with hot coffee and danish at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. The Newcomer’s Breakfast welcomed new members and first time conference attendees with a few words about FIAT/IFTA’s own functioning and how to get involved with our numerous activities.

A short walk in the sun brought us back to the Fiesta Inn hotel, were the presentations focused again on the most recent evolutions in our domain, sharing results and lively debates. In the afternoon eight expert lead discussion tables encouraged vibrant discussions about topics going from cloud storage via large scale digitisation and funding programmes to 1968 commemorations. After a last round of presentations participants headed off to get prepared for the Gala Dinner. And what a Gala Dinner! The Interactive Museum of Economy hosted a marvellous evening with live jazz music, interrupted gently by the Archive Achievement Awards show and a particularly festive celebration of FIAT/IFTA’s 40th birthday. Touching moments also at the end of the evening, when two giants of our profession, Richard Wright and Anne Hanford, received special FIAT/IFTA Cubes for their lifelong merits for our field and our organisation.

Day 3, the final day of the conference, will feature a keynote speech by Richard Wright and several other presentation and discussion sessions. Right before drinks and bites finalize another very fruitful gathering, the location of the 2018 FIAT/IFTA World Conference will be solemnly announced.

Pictures

#fiatifta2017

#fiatifta2017 Archive Innovation Award goes to https://t.co/6jW1tk20cx 📻! ☀️ pic.twitter.com/QxXDVCzheX

— Sound and Vision R&D (@benglabs) October 21, 2017

We are ready for the Gala dinner #fiatifta2017 at @MuseoMIDE pic.twitter.com/ouBabsf9V5

— aBee (@soy_aBee) October 21, 2017

„Microsoft“ mentioned quite often when talking about future solutions for digital archives #fiatifta2017 @littleguru

— Michael Liensberger (@liensberger) October 20, 2017

A very warm welcome to the @FIAT_IFTA community this morning at the newcomers breakfast – what a venue! #fiatifta2017 pic.twitter.com/DOt7Zq8veP

— Lisa Kerrigan (@kerriganagain) October 20, 2017