ICYMAN

June 17, 2003

Dear children and youth,

My name is Ariyan Daly; I’m 16 years old and have been appointed as the coordinator/publicist of ICYMAN during 2003-2005. I am inviting you to become part of this unique international network of children and young adults who are interested or already active in New Technology, multimedia, film or video productions. I have been involved in the moving images, performance and multimedia creation since I was 6 years old and appeared in many short films such as ‘Milky Ways’ and ‘Color Bars’ (2 Award winning Australian short films). And also made a few short films with the kids from the neighborhood and colleagues at school.

I have come to you to share this information because I feel it is important for all those young directors, creators and soon to be actors to have the chance to produce or star in their very own productions. It is essential that young people endorse independence by their genuine and uncensored self-expressions. As the coordinator it is my pleasure to inform you that this is a fantastic opportunity and rare practice to organize events and productions that are solely child and youth conceived and produced. It is also a vast learning experience for children and young adults and will assist to develop networking and enhance social skills, and boost confidence so they can achieve higher dreams and expectations.

In February 2004, ICYMAN will originate its ties between children, youth, and relevant organizations locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. One of the aims of ICYMAN is to lobby and advocate on behalf of children and youth in Western Sydney to gain access to Information Technology, Multimedia, Film and Video and Electronic art as the 21st Century forms of expression. A lot of children and youth don’t have the facilities or knowledge to accomplish what they desire, so we at ICYMAN can help young minds turn dreams into reality.

ICYMAN welcomes children and young adults 6-22 years old from all nationalities, religions and cultures to join the largest network of its kind by February 2005.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you had any question or suggestion about ICYMAN. Thank you for your time and looking forward to hear from you soon.

Yours Sincerely,

Ariyan Daly

Project Coordinator/Publicist
ICYMAN

PO Box 861 Auburn W Sydney NSW 1835 Australia

Ph: 61 422 638903

Email: icyman@reelmind.com

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ICYMAN (International Children and Youth Multimedia Access Network)

ICYMAN (International Children and Youth Multimedia Access Network) is a community cultural development and screen culture initiative in the Western Sydney region supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, Norwegian Film Institute, SAF (School of Animated Films, Croatia) and CIFEJ (International Centre of Films for Children and Young People, Canada).

In February 2004, ICYMAN will be launching a virtual database to commence networking between children, youth and relevant organizations locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. ICYMAN focuses on Information Technology and multimedia activities to connect children, youth and relevant organizations globally, and also be utilized as a virtual platform for cultural, artistic and personal development and expressions.

This is an opportunity to present young people from culturally diverse backgrounds in the Western Sydney region as one of the forefronts in networking and implementing new ways of expressions. The gathered information will be available on the project’s website for community access, as well as being compiled in a comprehensive booklet by 2005. Also, the multimedia works produced by children and youth in the year 2004-5 will be presented and promoted not only during the 7th and 8th Editions Auburn International Film and Video Festival for Children and Young Adults but in many other national and international film, video and multimedia festivals.

By the year 2005, ICYMAN will become a key organization for cultural and artistic development of children and young people in Western Sydney region with global a perspective, through initiating, devising and presenting projects utilizing New Technology, and audience development strategies. As well as establishing links with communities, children, youth, multimedia centres, festivals, arts and cultural organizations locally, nationally and internationally.

Aims and objectives

1. To lobby and advocate on behalf of children and youth in Western Sydney to gain access to Information Technology, Multimedia, Film and Video and Electronic art as the 21st Century forms of expression.

2. To initiate and establish an infrastructure entitled ICYMAN 'International Children and Youth Multimedia Access Network', that functions as a platform to address children and youth issues globally, administrated by culturally diverse children and youth of Western Sydney.

3. To initiate and develop CCD and Screen Culture activities through exchange programs locally, regionally, nationally and internationally to reach a greater understanding of the intertexuality and complexities in the social, cultural and political make up of each area, region or country.