 |
Progressing the World Expo '88 Vision
- A non-government not-for-profit entity celebrating Brisbane's World Expo '88 -
Founder and Foundation Executive Director - John R McGregor
June-December 2009
Welcome to Foundation Expo '88 - Australia's leading centre for World Expo '88 - and World Expositions.
Well, the spectacle of the 20th Anniversary of World Expo '88 is truly over now - the Night Companion sky tower has seen it's most glittering re-birth as part of the Queensland 150th Celebrations 1859-2009, and visits to the website have peaked to their highest since the website's inception, climaxing past the glories of the 20th Anniversary year. South Bank Parklands - the transformed World Expo '88 site - continues to welcome again wide-eyed and excited visitors as they view the numerous World Expo '88 commemorative displays at the Parklands, and there are other very tangible reminders of the Expo's success - from the Nepal Peace Pagoda at South Bank, to the afore mentioned Night Companion just a few metres away from South Bank at West End, to the Japan Pond and Garden at Mt Coot-tha, to the various sites within the state, inter-state and overseas of the humourous and iconic Human Factor sculptures.
Yet, there is much more work to be done.
Following in the footsteps of other expo cities and regions in the creation of foundations and/or museums to keep the expo flame alight for eternity, Foundation Expo '88 follows this movement as a repository for our expo memories, and voice that speaks of our significant local, state, and international World Expositions heritage.
Some of the leading lights of World Expositions history - both official - and non-official - such as London's Crystal Palace Museum and Foundation - celebrating what is considered as the World's First World Exhibition - held at the built-for-the-purpose Crystal Palace, Hyde Park, in London in 1851 - which now has a comprehensive website and Museum presence, the Crystal Palace Museum and Foundation, with a web-presence at http://www.crystalpalacefoundation.org.uk, - and the nywf64-65 website, celebrating the renegade New York World's Fair of 1964-1965, at http://www.nywf64.com, lead us in this regard.
And, there are also many official and non-official voices of the World Expositions system - which include the Bureau des International Expositions - known more commonly as the 'B.I.E.' - established by Diplomatic Convention in Paris in 1928 - and the official government member states that participate through diplomatic channels to the Convention at the B.I.E.'s twice-yearly General Assembly in Paris; as well as expert commentators on World Expositions - either through experienced affiliation with the B.I.E. itself - and/or through hosting and/or participation at World Expositions in general, and those who have travelled to, worked at, researched and studied World Expositions both in the traditional print media - such as the reknowned Expositions expert, advocate and publisher Alfred Heller - of World's Fairs Magazine - the eminent quarterly expert's and afficionado's guide and retrospective reference to World Expos, published between 1981-1995 - now available as a collated set work; and the new media of the internet and eGroup forum - such as Editor and Webmaster/Designer Extraordinaire Urso S. A. Chappell - of the some 500-strong world-wide membership base of expomuseum.com - one of the first and still central points of reference on the world wide web for all things relating to World Expositions - with its extensive year-by-year and decade-per-decade World Expositions reference time-line, including hyperlinks to every on-line known and documented World Exposition.
Foundation Expo '88, established in 2003, and which had its first official meeting and website launch on 30 April 2004 - the sixteenth anniversary of the official opening of the Expo - is a part of this movement - an on-line Brisbane-based non-government not-for-profit entity that celebrates the wonder of the 1988 World Exposition - the Bicentenary of European Settlement to Australia - and embraces and furthers Australia's World Expositions legacy and experience.
The Foundation Expo '88 vision is three-pronged:
1. Establish a comprehensive website for World Expo '88, and Australia's World Expositions legacy and experience;
2. Form an 'interested members' commemorative incorporated association, based in Brisbane, furthering and celebrating Brisbane's World Expo '88 heritage, and to further Brisbane's role as a host and participant in World Expositions;
3. Establish a community-based World Expo '88 Museum at the former Expo site - the popular South Bank Parklands - at one of the Expo's most cherished commemorative buildings - the Nepal Peace Pagoda; and an Australian World Expositions Museum in the Nation's capital, Canberra - focussing on Australia's brilliant record of representation at World Expositions - both as host and participant - including future Expositions.
The website's first and primary focus - a comprehensive website on Brisbane's World Expo '88 - is an important rallying point in solidifying these goals - and is nearing completion.
The Foundation has now also hosted ten General Meetings over the past four years since the Foundation's first public meeting on 30 April 2004 - which are held on the Anniversary Opening and Closing Ceremony Days of the Expo - and on each occasion has built up the Foundation's critical network structure - of speakers, participants, friends, colleagues - as well as eVisitors - from every part of the globe - who can read the Foundation Press-News page from any internet-connected computer in the World - and, perhaps, at future meetings - be able to listen live via podcasting - and even ask questions.
New pages at the website, increase the richness of the Foundation Expo '88 World Expo '88 experience - the branding is no longer 'the ultimate on-line reference to the 1988 World Exposition - but, 'Your Australian World Expositions Gateway' - noting the Foundation's growing role as an Australian voice for World Expositions - but also in increasingly non-on-line media, such as print and CD-rom resources, as well as computer operating system downloads that not only transform your daily work experience with some of the best panorama photographs taken at World Expo '88 as your desktop screen-saver (and wallpaper!), but also to mouse pointers that guide your every decision - from the popular globe logo of World Expo '88 - to the magic of Expo Oz - the platypus mascot of World Expo '88 - with his magic 'internet hyperlink' wand, and, the familiar and calming Foundation Expo '88 globe logo that spins endlessly whilst your computer is at work - all features added to the website in just the past few months. And, one shouldn't forget the Foundation Expo '88 Gift Shop (now also with local In Store partner at Image Plus Digital Imaging Indooroopilly Shoppingtown), where one can select and customize a special gift item, with free international postage, and secure processing, with proceeds helping assist Foundation goals.
The second-tier initiative of the Foundation - the creation of a Brisbane-based interested members historical association for World Expo '88 and the promotion of Brisbane's role in World Expositions is the creation of 'The Friends of the Pagoda Association' - building on the good work established by The Association to Preserve Asian Culture, The Save the Pagoda Committee, and Friends of the Pagoda - in creating the Pagoda for Expo, keeping the Pagoda for the City of Brisbane, and celebrating the Pagoda's rich cultural heritage.
Foundation Expo '88 is working with these goals - and takes them a step further - to re-juvenate the Pagoda as a central arts venue in Brisbane town, buoyed by an active historical, social, and administrative Association - with the objective of creating a permanent World Expo '88 Commemorative Museum at the Pagoda's Second level.
Complementing the world wide web aspect of the Foundation's work at foundationexpo88.org, with in person commemorative activities, displays and exhibits at the Pagoda itself, the Association also features a considerable online presence at foundationexpo88.org, which act as the Association's communications portal and Membership and other important information all being able to be completed online - including Membership Payment & Application, eDonations, Association Rules, Press Releases, the Peace Pagoda of Nepal Document and also the recently published 'Brisbane Nepal Peace Pagoda Information Sheet Pack' (and Activity Sheets one can complete in one's own time) - a 20-sheet information sheet pack containing information regarding every aspect of the Brisbane Nepal Peace Pagoda experience, a reference for 'virtual' visitors to the Pagoda - as well as future Guides of the Association.
And South Bank Corporation's generosity in the lead-up to and during the 20th Anniversary year, as well as today, and re-assertion of the Pagoda's important role as our principal icon of World Expo '88 - and the wonderful synergies created by celebrating the Expo at the Pagoda, is officially recognized here.
And an important part of communicating our goals at the local Brisbane level is the local distribution of the Foundation's World Expo '88 Network Guide Pamphlet - Edition 2.0 May 2007 - at the Nepal Peace Pagoda itself. A special production for the lead-up to the 20th Anniversary, this free colour pamphlet, double-sided DL size, conceived, designed and delivered by the Foundation Executive Director, will further the Foundation's influence as a chief advocate for World Expo '88 in Brisbane, and enrich the tourist, visitor, and resident diary in Brisbane.
And one must also remember the Foundation's growing role as an advocate for past, present AND future Australian World Expositions, found at "We Propose That..." http://www.foundationexpo88.org/weproposethat.html, and, the Captain Cook 250th Anniversary Celebrations Citizens' Committee - Chief Project for the 250th Anniversary of New South Wales 1770-2020 A.D.: a mega-plan to host a Joint Universal Exposition and 32nd Summer Games Olympiad in one of Australia's capital cities. This ambitious project to host these two Joint Events needs support now - in the important five-year lead-up to bid success in 2013, and the Foundation has been agressively promoting the proposal to key government and non-government local, state and federal representatives, the media, not-for-profit and the general public through meetings and open information sessions throughout Brisbane - the first of many in person promotions and orientations site during this five year project. I hope you too will come aboard!
Lastly, enjoy the preparations for Australia's representation at our next World Exposition - Shanghai World Expo 2010, where Foundation Expo '88, as a one time China resident, is keenly following the developments at this pinnacle Expo. Follow the action at the official Australia Pavilion website http://www.australianpavilion.com/.
With the 20th Anniversary year behind us, and Shanghai World Expo 2010 ahead of us, now is the time to consolidate on the good work conducted in the lead-up to and during the Anniversary year - and ensuring that key components of the Foundation's work remain at full production, creating a future legacy from the exciting 20th Anniversary Year of World Expo '88 celebrations - for Brisbane, and the worldwide stage of the world wide web. All three key goals of the Foundation - a comprehensive website, commemorative association, and Museum - are working together - over-lapping, and creating new synergies of creative energy - which we hope - will further extend World Expo '88's and Brisbane's influence in World Expositions history and development, as well as lead to the crowning achievement of greater non-government commentary for Australia's legacy and experience in the World Expositions movement - and the creation of an Australian World Expositions Museum in the Nation's capital - Canberra.
I hope you will take part in this exciting project - and, enjoy our rich heritage given to us by World Expo '88 and the 20th Anniversary of World Expo '88 celebrations - and help work with us - in celebrating World Expo '88 - in Brisbane City - at the Pagoda itself - and at our other significant World Expo '88 heritage venues for future anniversary dates both now and far into the future.
In the meantime, please take your time to investigate the many avenues of World Expo '88, Australian, and World Expositions miscellanea that can be found here at the Foundation website, by:
*** Look to how various aspects of the Foundation Expo '88 20th Anniversary Celebration and the work of The Friends of the Pagoda Association can be put forward for future anniversary celebrations of the Expo - 2013 - 2018 - 2088.
** Read and add your commentary to the World Expo '88 Ideas Centre! Blog - hosted at AOL Journals - the ideas centre for commemorating World Expo '88 in Brisbane town.
*** Read Expo FAQs - your every World Expositions question answered - from an Australian point of view.
*** Join the Foundation's World Expo '88 Discussion Forum fexpo88 - hosted at Google Groups - to keep in touch with the latest website updates, Australian World Exposition and World Expo '88 news through the Foundation's dedicated eNewsletter 'World Expositions Snapshot', and chat, and discussion.
*** Attend one of our bi-annual meetings - held on the anniversary dates of World Expo '88 - April 30 and October 30.
*** Donate, lend, or send us a photograph, scanned image, or item of World Expo '88 memorabilia that you may own - for the Foundation's archives, display at the Foundation website's virtual 'Museum Archives' pages, or for the World Expo '88 Museum.
*** Volunteer to help in any of the Foundation's administration and/or Public Relations activities.
*** Become a Member and volunteer to assist with the work of The Friends of the Pagoda Association, donate World Expo '88 Memorabilia, furniture, display cabinets and/or equipment for the World Expo '88 Museum at the Nepal Peace Pagoda.
Start with your visit today!
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely
John R McGregor
Founder and Foundation Executive Director Foundation Expo '88
Pavilion Attendant Japan Pavilion Brisbane World Expo '88 Australia
Guide Corporate Visitors Department Universal Exposition of Seville 1992 Spain
Press Writer Press Center Taejon International Exposition 1993 South Korea
Assistant Inaugural Assembly of Expo Cities & Regions World Trade Center Seville 2002
Find out more about the Executive Director
Visit !Things to Do at Foundation Expo '88!
Write me an e-mail or letter
executivedirector@foundationexpo88.org
John McGregor - Executive Director, Foundation Expo '88 135 KEATS STREET MOOROOKA BRISBANE QUEENSLAND COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 4105
Well, the spectacle of the 20th Anniversary of World Expo '88 is truly over now - the Night Companion sky tower has seen it's most glittering re-birth as part of the Queensland 150th Celebrations 1859-2009, and visits to the website have peaked to their highest since the website's inception, climaxing past the glories of the 20th Anniversary year. South Bank Parklands - the transformed World Expo '88 site - continues to welcome again wide-eyed and excited visitors as they view the numerous World Expo '88 commemorative displays at the Parklands, and there are other very tangible reminders of the Expo's success - from the Nepal Peace Pagoda at South Bank, to the afore mentioned Night Companion just a few metres away from South Bank at West End, to the Japan Pond and Garden at Mt Coot-tha, to the various sites within the state, inter-state and overseas of the humourous and iconic Human Factor sculptures.
Yet, there is much more work to be done.
Following in the footsteps of other expo cities and regions in the creation of foundations and/or museums to keep the expo flame alight for eternity, Foundation Expo '88 follows this movement as a repository for our expo memories, and voice that speaks of our significant local, state, and international World Expositions heritage.
Some of the leading lights of World Expositions history - both official - and non-official - such as London's Crystal Palace Museum and Foundation - celebrating what is considered as the World's First World Exhibition - held at the built-for-the-purpose Crystal Palace, Hyde Park, in London in 1851 - which now has a comprehensive website and Museum presence, the Crystal Palace Museum and Foundation, with a web-presence at http://www.crystalpalacefoundation.org.uk, - and the nywf64-65 website, celebrating the renegade New York World's Fair of 1964-1965, at http://www.nywf64.com, lead us in this regard.
And, there are also many official and non-official voices of the World Expositions system - which include the Bureau des International Expositions - known more commonly as the 'B.I.E.' - established by Diplomatic Convention in Paris in 1928 - and the official government member states that participate through diplomatic channels to the Convention at the B.I.E.'s twice-yearly General Assembly in Paris; as well as expert commentators on World Expositions - either through experienced affiliation with the B.I.E. itself - and/or through hosting and/or participation at World Expositions in general, and those who have travelled to, worked at, researched and studied World Expositions both in the traditional print media - such as the reknowned Expositions expert, advocate and publisher Alfred Heller - of World's Fairs Magazine - the eminent quarterly expert's and afficionado's guide and retrospective reference to World Expos, published between 1981-1995 - now available as a collated set work; and the new media of the internet and eGroup forum - such as Editor and Webmaster/Designer Extraordinaire Urso S. A. Chappell - of the some 500-strong world-wide membership base of expomuseum.com - one of the first and still central points of reference on the world wide web for all things relating to World Expositions - with its extensive year-by-year and decade-per-decade World Expositions reference time-line, including hyperlinks to every on-line known and documented World Exposition.
Foundation Expo '88, established in 2003, and which had its first official meeting and website launch on 30 April 2004 - the sixteenth anniversary of the official opening of the Expo - is a part of this movement - an on-line Brisbane-based non-government not-for-profit entity that celebrates the wonder of the 1988 World Exposition - the Bicentenary of European Settlement to Australia - and embraces and furthers Australia's World Expositions legacy and experience.
The Foundation Expo '88 vision is three-pronged:
1. Establish a comprehensive website for World Expo '88, and Australia's World Expositions legacy and experience;
2. Form an 'interested members' commemorative incorporated association, based in Brisbane, furthering and celebrating Brisbane's World Expo '88 heritage, and to further Brisbane's role as a host and participant in World Expositions;
3. Establish a community-based World Expo '88 Museum at the former Expo site - the popular South Bank Parklands - at one of the Expo's most cherished commemorative buildings - the Nepal Peace Pagoda; and an Australian World Expositions Museum in the Nation's capital, Canberra - focussing on Australia's brilliant record of representation at World Expositions - both as host and participant - including future Expositions.
The website's first and primary focus - a comprehensive website on Brisbane's World Expo '88 - is an important rallying point in solidifying these goals - and is nearing completion.
The Foundation has now also hosted ten General Meetings over the past four years since the Foundation's first public meeting on 30 April 2004 - which are held on the Anniversary Opening and Closing Ceremony Days of the Expo - and on each occasion has built up the Foundation's critical network structure - of speakers, participants, friends, colleagues - as well as eVisitors - from every part of the globe - who can read the Foundation Press-News page from any internet-connected computer in the World - and, perhaps, at future meetings - be able to listen live via podcasting - and even ask questions.
New pages at the website, increase the richness of the Foundation Expo '88 World Expo '88 experience - the branding is no longer 'the ultimate on-line reference to the 1988 World Exposition - but, 'Your Australian World Expositions Gateway' - noting the Foundation's growing role as an Australian voice for World Expositions - but also in increasingly non-on-line media, such as print and CD-rom resources, as well as computer operating system downloads that not only transform your daily work experience with some of the best panorama photographs taken at World Expo '88 as your desktop screen-saver (and wallpaper!), but also to mouse pointers that guide your every decision - from the popular globe logo of World Expo '88 - to the magic of Expo Oz - the platypus mascot of World Expo '88 - with his magic 'internet hyperlink' wand, and, the familiar and calming Foundation Expo '88 globe logo that spins endlessly whilst your computer is at work - all features added to the website in just the past few months. And, one shouldn't forget the Foundation Expo '88 Gift Shop (now also with local In Store partner at Image Plus Digital Imaging Indooroopilly Shoppingtown), where one can select and customize a special gift item, with free international postage, and secure processing, with proceeds helping assist Foundation goals.
The second-tier initiative of the Foundation - the creation of a Brisbane-based interested members historical association for World Expo '88 and the promotion of Brisbane's role in World Expositions is the creation of 'The Friends of the Pagoda Association' - building on the good work established by The Association to Preserve Asian Culture, The Save the Pagoda Committee, and Friends of the Pagoda - in creating the Pagoda for Expo, keeping the Pagoda for the City of Brisbane, and celebrating the Pagoda's rich cultural heritage.
Foundation Expo '88 is working with these goals - and takes them a step further - to re-juvenate the Pagoda as a central arts venue in Brisbane town, buoyed by an active historical, social, and administrative Association - with the objective of creating a permanent World Expo '88 Commemorative Museum at the Pagoda's Second level.
Complementing the world wide web aspect of the Foundation's work at foundationexpo88.org, with in person commemorative activities, displays and exhibits at the Pagoda itself, the Association also features a considerable online presence at foundationexpo88.org, which act as the Association's communications portal and Membership and other important information all being able to be completed online - including Membership Payment & Application, eDonations, Association Rules, Press Releases, the Peace Pagoda of Nepal Document and also the recently published 'Brisbane Nepal Peace Pagoda Information Sheet Pack' (and Activity Sheets one can complete in one's own time) - a 20-sheet information sheet pack containing information regarding every aspect of the Brisbane Nepal Peace Pagoda experience, a reference for 'virtual' visitors to the Pagoda - as well as future Guides of the Association.
And South Bank Corporation's generosity in the lead-up to and during the 20th Anniversary year, as well as today, and re-assertion of the Pagoda's important role as our principal icon of World Expo '88 - and the wonderful synergies created by celebrating the Expo at the Pagoda, is officially recognized here.
And an important part of communicating our goals at the local Brisbane level is the local distribution of the Foundation's World Expo '88 Network Guide Pamphlet - Edition 2.0 May 2007 - at the Nepal Peace Pagoda itself. A special production for the lead-up to the 20th Anniversary, this free colour pamphlet, double-sided DL size, conceived, designed and delivered by the Foundation Executive Director, will further the Foundation's influence as a chief advocate for World Expo '88 in Brisbane, and enrich the tourist, visitor, and resident diary in Brisbane.
And one must also remember the Foundation's growing role as an advocate for past, present AND future Australian World Expositions, found at "We Propose That..." http://www.foundationexpo88.org/weproposethat.html, and, the Captain Cook 250th Anniversary Celebrations Citizens' Committee - Chief Project for the 250th Anniversary of New South Wales 1770-2020 A.D.: a mega-plan to host a Joint Universal Exposition and 32nd Summer Games Olympiad in one of Australia's capital cities. This ambitious project to host these two Joint Events needs support now - in the important five-year lead-up to bid success in 2013, and the Foundation has been agressively promoting the proposal to key government and non-government local, state and federal representatives, the media, not-for-profit and the general public through meetings and open information sessions throughout Brisbane - the first of many in person promotions and orientations site during this five year project. I hope you too will come aboard!
Lastly, enjoy the preparations for Australia's representation at our next World Exposition - Shanghai World Expo 2010, where Foundation Expo '88, as a one time China resident, is keenly following the developments at this pinnacle Expo. Follow the action at the official Australia Pavilion website http://www.australianpavilion.com/.
With the 20th Anniversary year behind us, and Shanghai World Expo 2010 ahead of us, now is the time to consolidate on the good work conducted in the lead-up to and during the Anniversary year - and ensuring that key components of the Foundation's work remain at full production, creating a future legacy from the exciting 20th Anniversary Year of World Expo '88 celebrations - for Brisbane, and the worldwide stage of the world wide web. All three key goals of the Foundation - a comprehensive website, commemorative association, and Museum - are working together - over-lapping, and creating new synergies of creative energy - which we hope - will further extend World Expo '88's and Brisbane's influence in World Expositions history and development, as well as lead to the crowning achievement of greater non-government commentary for Australia's legacy and experience in the World Expositions movement - and the creation of an Australian World Expositions Museum in the Nation's capital - Canberra.
I hope you will take part in this exciting project - and, enjoy our rich heritage given to us by World Expo '88 and the 20th Anniversary of World Expo '88 celebrations - and help work with us - in celebrating World Expo '88 - in Brisbane City - at the Pagoda itself - and at our other significant World Expo '88 heritage venues for future anniversary dates both now and far into the future.
In the meantime, please take your time to investigate the many avenues of World Expo '88, Australian, and World Expositions miscellanea that can be found here at the Foundation website, by:
*** Look to how various aspects of the Foundation Expo '88 20th Anniversary Celebration and the work of The Friends of the Pagoda Association can be put forward for future anniversary celebrations of the Expo - 2013 - 2018 - 2088.
** Read and add your commentary to the World Expo '88 Ideas Centre! Blog - hosted at AOL Journals - the ideas centre for commemorating World Expo '88 in Brisbane town.
*** Read Expo FAQs - your every World Expositions question answered - from an Australian point of view.
*** Join the Foundation's World Expo '88 Discussion Forum fexpo88 - hosted at Google Groups - to keep in touch with the latest website updates, Australian World Exposition and World Expo '88 news through the Foundation's dedicated eNewsletter 'World Expositions Snapshot', and chat, and discussion.
*** Attend one of our bi-annual meetings - held on the anniversary dates of World Expo '88 - April 30 and October 30.
*** Donate, lend, or send us a photograph, scanned image, or item of World Expo '88 memorabilia that you may own - for the Foundation's archives, display at the Foundation website's virtual 'Museum Archives' pages, or for the World Expo '88 Museum.
*** Volunteer to help in any of the Foundation's administration and/or Public Relations activities.
*** Become a Member and volunteer to assist with the work of The Friends of the Pagoda Association, donate World Expo '88 Memorabilia, furniture, display cabinets and/or equipment for the World Expo '88 Museum at the Nepal Peace Pagoda.
Start with your visit today!
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely
John R McGregor
Founder and Foundation Executive Director Foundation Expo '88
Pavilion Attendant Japan Pavilion Brisbane World Expo '88 Australia
Guide Corporate Visitors Department Universal Exposition of Seville 1992 Spain
Press Writer Press Center Taejon International Exposition 1993 South Korea
Assistant Inaugural Assembly of Expo Cities & Regions World Trade Center Seville 2002
Find out more about the Executive Director
Visit !Things to Do at Foundation Expo '88!
Write me an e-mail or letter
executivedirector@foundationexpo88.org
John McGregor - Executive Director, Foundation Expo '88 135 KEATS STREET MOOROOKA BRISBANE QUEENSLAND COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 4105