DFAIT offers unpaid web building project to showcase Canadian art at G8 Summit

G8 Summit officials are defending their decision not to offer financial compensation for a web site and CD-ROM worth roughly $45,000, citing the international showcase opportunity for the company chosen to develop the online gallery. While the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) official in charge of the project makes no apologies for asking new media companies to work for free on the site, industry watchers are questioning whether the final result will meet quality standards suitable to showcase the best and brightest of the Canadian industry. On April 17, DFAIT posted the bid opportunity to the MERX online system (no. 61077) calling for " Letter of Interest for the design and production of a web ‘G8 Virtual Collection’ to commemorate and to showcase all Canadian works of art, fine furniture, and commissioned works on display during the G8 Kananaskis Summit on June 26 and 27, 2002." Companies expressing interest as of April 24ComwatersTorontoCreatrixOttawaDeschenes RegnierCalgaryEagle Feather Data ExchangeSaskatoonGasoline MarketingTorontoHeadlight Innovative ImageryOttawai4designHullImpact BlueCalgaryIntoinfoOttawaMcKim CommunicationsWinnipegm2designMontrealPangaea SystemsCalgaryPeilion International GroupBrampton ONRegan ProductionsCalgaryRippleFX Communication GroupCalgarySERDEX Saguenay-Lac-Saint-JeanLac-Saint JeanSomniaEdmontonTelusCalgaryVincelli CommunicationsMontrealVision Quest Management SolutionsWinnipegXYZRGBOttawaSam Punnett, chief knowledge officer at Delvinia Inc., is not convinced that the promotional value of the CD and site will be enough to entice the best companies to apply. "What you want is somebody who’s not getting paid to promote Canadian art and culture? Ain’t that Canadian," he jokes. After suggesting the work might be best given to an academic institution such as Sheridan College, which "has the time, talent and doesn’t need the money," Punnett predicts the job will be accepted by a small business. "You’re going to get a garage shop that thinks it’s a great promotional opportunity. But you’ve got to seriously question a firm’s ability to follow through. Either that or you’re going to get somebody who’s got so much government work on their plate, anyway, that they can afford that kind of luxury." He adds that he’s not aware of such a company. Project head Danielle Barrette-Marcuccio, however, says several firms have already lined up to accept the job. Though cash compensation isn’t on the table, she says the opportunity to gain exposure before 3,000 international media and delegates to the summit is exceptional. "What we’re trying to do is open up our partnership opportunities. Rather than just going out and hand-picking a multimedia company or two, and pitching them, we are putting a letter of interest on the MERX system advising them that there is an opportunity here for a company to build a showcase product," the DFAIT official tells Canadian NEW MEDIA. "I’ll explain to you why there’s no money on the table: one is, the summit is being run as a green summit. Number two…we’re trying to keep down expenses. We’re spending taxpayers’ dollars. This is a nice-to-have project, but do we need it to run this summit? The answer is no. "In response, if you will, to the fact that we’re accountable to citizens for what we’re doing and how we’re spending money, we said that, ok, if we can find a partner to do this project because we think it would showcase Canadian art, it’ll give profile to a company that can show off its talent and also gain worldwide recognition. We’ve got international media and we’ve got the world leaders from all the top leading countries, this gives people a showcase piece that will have visibility all over the world in one shot." The project carries an expected June 17 completion date, by which time the winning company will have had to produce a web site and CD-ROM, with the work including project management, transporting artwork if necessary, photographing and digitizing the images, writing all copy, translation, designing the site architecture, CD jacket and label, and reproducing and delivering the CD files. In return, the successful company will be allowed to include comments from its CEO on the CD, logo and company name on the CD jacket, recognition and a link on the official G8 site, a certificate of appreciation from the prime minister and a sampling of images included in the summit’s partners recognition booklet. The site will also be showcased on Canadian Heritage’s Virtual Museum site.

DFAIT offers unpaid web building project to showcase Canadian art at G8 Summit

News | 05/01/2002 4:00 am EDT

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