EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
| ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
| ORGANIZATION PHILOSOPHY
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT FACTS
FACTS evolved from the ever-increasing need for information
about the preservation of artwork and keepsakes. Ignorance
and misinformation results in an annual loss of hundreds
of thousands of dollars, as countless items both public
and personal are damaged or destroyed each year. A simple
fact is, if artwork and keepsakes are-going to last
they need proper care and periodic maintenance. FACTS
recognized a need for reliable information and FACTS
is working to establish a much needed single source
of reliable, proven information.
As the only standards setting organization working
in the arts FACTS standards are a valuable resource,
they are developed using the latest research and with
the help of art industry. As a nonprofit organization
with no vested interest in content the development of
the standards is universal. FACTS standards consider
all relevant materials and differing viewpoints. They
address their subject with the most current scientific
research and the widest possible participation. They
are reviewed regularly to include new research and any
other relevant changes in information. FACTS maintains
strict guidelines for developing fair and impartial
standards and is organized to meet all the requirements
of proper standard setting procedures; this is reflected
in the Bylaws and policies.
As a volunteer organization FACTS prides itself on
its ability to direct the greatest percentage of its
funding directly to its programs, and extends an open
invitation to everyone to help.
Founded in 1994, The Carapace Institute, Inc., dba
FACTS, is a (501)(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation,
Tax ID 02-0495650. All contributions to FACTS are fully
tax-deductible.
FACTS is listed in the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST) catalogue of standards-setting
organizations. FACTS is standards-setting is recognized
by the Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA).
FACTS develops information and standards that deal
with art from conception to conservation. Committees
are open to all interested individuals. All standards
are based on reliable research. When such research is
not available, standards are based on the consensus
of a knowledgeable and experienced committee. All standards
are voluntary - they have legal implications only when
included in a contract or if adopted by the government.
FACTS does not enforce the use of its standards. They
are developed as guides to the most current research
or consensus opinion, to provide a reliable source of
proven information, to correct misinformation, and as
a basis for education. FACTS maintains an advisory committee
that reviews standards and provides the highest level
of current information.
FACTS does not to condemn or criticize previously
accepted methods, procedures and decisions that may
have been proven damaging over time, but directs its
energies toward correcting them.
FACTS bases all information on qualified scientific
research and then on consensus opinion, when that opinion
is expressed by those who by training and experience
are qualified to do so.
FACTS believes there are no bad products -only misused
ones.
Responses to FACTS Standards development as - reprinted
in part from Picture Framing Magazine:
"FACTS has successfully created a forum for leading
matboard companies to establish guidelines for preservation
and conservation mounting, matting and framing. What
an outstanding accomplishment! Thank You FACTS, for
a great vision." - Crescent Cardboard Company (Manufacturer)
"Tru Vue is proud to be associated with the FACTS
organization and is in compliance with the standards
it has worked so diligently to develop." - Tru
Vue (Manufacturer)
"The new framing standards are a long-awaited
milestone in our industry. They will prove helpful in
training employees and communicating professional standards
to customers." - Jay Goltz (Framer)
"We proudly support the efforts of FACTS in researching
and publishing important industry standards such as
the Guide for Permanence in Mat and Mounting Boards."-
Nielsen & Bainbridge (Manufacturer)
"With the FACTS guidelines to set standards in
preservation framing, consumers can be confident that
their art is framed appropriately. More importantly,
framers have clear directives to spell out acceptable
practices for framing art on paper. As a professional
who cares about quality, I say finally! As an instructor,
I welcome the guidelines as an educational tool."
- Nona Powers (Educator)
"For more than 27 years, Rising has been an avid
supporter of conservation and preservation framing,
we are proud to be associated with the FACTS projects.-
Rising Div. Fox River Paper Co. (Manufacturer)
"Gone is the armchair science, replaced by actual
research and performance data. Now we can choose the
appropriate materials to do the job correctly and still
be creative."- Brian Wolf (Educator)
YOU CAN BE A LEADER - By Jay Goltz (reprinted
from August 1996 Picture Framing Magazine)
Being a picture framer comes with responsibility.
When framing someone's artwork, whether it be an old,
irreplaceable family photograph, an expensive limited
edition print, or an inexpensive poster picked up on
vacation both we and the customer stand to lose a lot.
Framing artwork properly and appropriately requires
education and care. That is where we, as an industry,
have a problem. Picture framing is an unlicensed, unregulated,
and non-degree profession. These days, it's easier than
ever to get into the custom framing business.
For about the same cost as a nice dinner, one can
be in business. A catalog, some corner samples, maybe
some business cards, and a friendly smile is all that
is required. Fortunately, the industry has taken great
strides in that there are many different training courses
offered, and there has been a dramatic increase in the
appropriate materials available for proper framing.
As with any growing industry, where there becomes
an increase of suppliers and a more educated consumer
base, there is a need for standards to be established.
In the case of the automotive and food industries, the
government has stepped in to establish standards to
protect the consumer for health and safety reasons.
In other industries, such as personal computers, the
industry itself has come together to establish its own
standards.
It's time for the picture frame industry to grow up,
and it's already happening. Don Pierce and Kris Anderson
are spearheading the effort to fix the problem. Many
of you know Don from his years of articles on proper
framing techniques. He has established an organization,
FACTS. Don has successfully managed to get the key suppliers
to agree on the need for and commitment to establishing
standards for the industry. One of the first steps was
to agree on proper matboard and glazing terminology,
Why should you care? Why should anyone care? There
are a few reasons.
I would hope that if you were a professional in this
industry, you would like to do the best possible framing
for your customer. That requires knowing what's right
or what's wrong for any given piece of artwork.
If you've ever framed a picture, you have some liability
whether you'd like to think so or not. Being able to
say we follow "industry standards" is a great
umbrella to stand under when your customer's brother,
in-law’s cousin's neighbor who works in a craft
store says you're doing something wrong. Whether it
is just to protect your honor, or to protect you from
his lawyer, you'll be on much safer ground if you can
open an "Official Standards Guide" and get
some support.
Finally, you will have some defense against suppliers
who make questionable claims about their products. If
there were clear-cut standards, their product would
either meet it or not.
FACTS is now signing up retail framers to be part of
this process it's called the GAFP (Generally Accepted
Framing Practices) Project. For $150, a framer will
get about three pounds of paperwork. The price covers
the cost of the research materials, pamphlets for consumers,
and the shipping. You might ask, "Why should I
spend $150 to be involved in a groundbreaking establishment
in an industry we all know and love? Answer: Because
it's smart. The information you will pick up along the
way will be useful to your business. And hey, you'll
be able to tell your customers that you were involved
in establishing the standards for the industry. And
that, my friends, is worth a million bucks! OK, maybe
not a million-but a hell-of- a-lot more than $150.
Thanks to Don and Kris for your gallant efforts. You're
going to get a lifetime achievement award (as soon as
I establish one)!
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