The 8th Annual iDMAa (International Digital Media Arts Association) conference held Nov 4-6 at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Vancouver, Canada was a great success.

The Digital Narrative theme was explored from numerous perspectives, sharing how storytelling and communication is influencing and influenced by digital media and emerging technologies. More than 150 delegates representing academic and industry professionals in the field of digital media and arts from around the world participated in the event.

The conference featured dynamic key notes speakers, presentations, an art exposition, a student showcase as well as a real-time, inter-continental collaborative performance called Connecting the Edges.

On the closing night of the conference, GRAND scientific director, Kellogg Booth, had the honour of opening the iDMAa annual awards dinner which recognizes excellence and achievement in the field of digital media and in digital media education. Among the award winners was Dr. Ron Burnett, president of Emily Carr University of Art + Design,  who was recognized with an iDMAa Outstanding Leadership Award.

As a sponsor of the awards dinner, GRAND was delighted to support the conference. Representatives from Emily Carr University of Art + Design, NSCAD University (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design) and OCAD University (Ontario College of Art and Design), university members of the GRAND network, were in attendance along with other prestigious art and design schools and iDMAa affiliated universities.

The International Digital Media Arts Association (iDMAa), founded in early 2004 by a group of 15 universities in the United States, is a forum for professionals working across the wide range of disciplines and initiatives around the emerging field of Digital Media and Arts.  www.idmaa.org/idmaa2010

GRAND is a federally funded research network and commercialization engine in the area of graphics, animation and new media. GRAND currently supports 32 research projects involving 63 researchers at 24 universities across Canada. www.grand-nce.ca