Welcome to summer – here comes the sun. Its time to seek out some shade, pop in some earbuds and enjoy Synchresis – our latest Filter with accompanying DVD, guest edited and curated by Mitchell Whitelaw. 
Thank you Mitchell and everyone who has contributed to produce this important textual and audiovisual survey of Australian sound art.
You may have noticed over the past year that ANAT has been evolving – new faces, diverse programs, fresh design. Our staffing has grown significantly and we have restructured our program into four focus areas to best serve the Australian emerging, media, hybrid and sound art community:
>> Emerging Technologies [ET]
This core ANAT area (variously know over the past 20 years as master classes, summer schools and media labs), produces productive, entertaining and intensive annual workshops for artists, technologists, writers, curators and developers. In 2007 we delivered reSkin wearable technology in Canberra, and still/open distributed open source creativity lab in Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane.
>> Art Science [AS]
ANAT has been dedicated to embedding artists in science and research institutions for the past 15 years. We are now expanding this area with new national and international partners. The Synapse database has been redesigned to include local and international artists, scientists, science writers, publications and residencies. Vicki Sowry, the ars program manager, has just returned from Mutamorphis in Prague and will be launching the dynamic Synapse web discussion list in early 2008.
>> Portable Platforms [PP]
Under the management of Sasha Grbich our portable platforms program area has grown significantly, from skilling artists in mobile technologies, commissioning made for mobile works, to a national and regional touring exhibitions and workshop program. In 2007, the program received an award for digital innovation at the Adelaide Film Festival and we showcased it at the International Pocket Film Festival in Paris. Next year, pp will include new partnerships and technologies, which enhance the potential of mobile computing.
>> Embracing Sound [ES]
Although ANAT has always supported emerging and experimental sound arts, we have not formally acknowledged this in our program areas. I am delighted that we have appointed Shannon O’Neill to manage the esp area nationally – aiming to connect the diverse sound community with each other and the broader audience it deserves. esp launches on December 13 in Sydney, with a performance evening, this Filter and the accompanying Synchresis DVD.
But wait… there’s more!! In 2008 we will unveil the long anticipated new ANAT web site, with greatly increased functionality, profiles of our members and the latest in industry and ANAT news. A significant feature for members will be access to video interviews with the smartest artists, writers and curators from around the globe, produced by our roving videographer Somaya Langley – the newest member of the A team!
After a highly productive year we are looking forward to a rest over the summer break! All of us at ANAT – our staff, board, contractors, interns and volunteers – wish you, your loved ones and virtual friends a joyous, prosperous, relaxing and safe holiday season.
Happy reading, happy listening and happy viewing – remember, your brain is your largest pleasure organ..!
Melinda
Melinda Rackham
Melinda was the Executive Director at ANAT from 2005 to 2009.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Australia.