About

Our goal

The AV Collective LLC is a woman of color owned startup bringing together experts in the field of audio visual preservation. What makes us different from other consulting companies is our shared value of amplifying the voices of experts from across communities: Black, indigenous, Latinx, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, immigrants, and anyone who’s voice has historically been silenced. We believe that expertise in the field of audio-visual preservation paired with a deep cultural understanding and appreciation for the collections handled is what serves our communities and our clients best.

Our team

Ruxandra Marcu, PhD

She/They

Language(s): English, German, Romanian, French

Dr. Ruxandra Marcu is a co-founder of the AV Collective and supports projects as an archival researcher and assessment specialist. Dr. Marcu holds a PhD in German and Comparative Literature (Washington University in St. Louis, 2012) with a specialization in archives and special collections.

 

Dr. Marcu has taught film analysis to university students, published on visual analysis in peer-review publications, produced a radio series on local artists, has facilitated film discussions as an invited speaker by local arts organizations, and has taken university students to Berlin for on-site teachings on archives, memorials, museums, and visual culture.

 

Dr. Marcu is certified in leading organizations through change management and can provide program assessments, summaries of best practices with recommendations for implementation, resources for future development of initiatives, and strategic guidance and benchmarking.

 

In addition to project support, Dr. Marcu provides workshops and trainings for educators, corporate teams, and community groups wanting to grow their understanding and implementation of inclusive practices, diversity, and belonging.

 

Contact: rvm@theavcollective.space & LinkedIn

Rosie Rowe

She/They

Language(s): English

Rosie Rowe is the founder and owner of AV Collective, a comprehensive consultancy specializing in audiovisual production and preservation, collection management, infrastructure design, and workflow optimization.

 

Driven by a deep-seated passion for crafting AV preservation solutions that cater to institutions with limited resources, Rosie places a strong emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility. Their dedication to equity work earned Rosie the prestigious Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Advancing One Community Award” from Iowa State University in 2022, recognizing their outstanding contributions to campus equity and within Iowa State University’s archival moving image and sound collections.

 

Outside of their professional pursuits, Rosie leads a multifaceted life. They take pleasure in restoring bicycles, exploring the world of experimental film, curating a collection of records from the year 1972, and above all, they cherish the quality time spent with their beloved family.

 

Rosie’s career trajectory is marked by impactful projects:

  • From 1999 to 2008, they provided creative and technical support to community members at Portland Cable Access, playing a pivotal role in launching community programs from scratch.

 

  • Between 2010 and 2016, Rosie offered their expertise to Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision archives (formerly the New Zealand Film Archives and Archives New Zealand). During their tenure as AV Preservation Senior Advisor for Archives New Zealand, they played a crucial role in procuring Peter Jackson’s film lab for an extensive film-to-film preservation initiative. Rosie’s work in New Zealand led them to adopt the Tiakina Kaitiaki Relationship Framework, which became an integral philosophy in their archival practice.

 

  • In 2012, they founded the Wellington Underground Film Festival (WUFF) and successfully organized four consecutive annual experimental film festivals in Wellington, New Zealand. The legacy of WUFF continues under the banner of Subterranean Films, which continues to screen contemporary artists’ works.

 

  • From 2017 to 2022, Rosie orchestrated the design and implementation of the AV preservation lab for Iowa State University’s moving image and sound collections. They secured major grants to preserve and showcase significant collections at ISU, including the Council on Library & Information Resources (CLIR) Recordings at Risk grant for the National Farmers Organization film collection (2018), the Silos and Smokestacks Heritage grant for an archival film screening outreach program (2019), and the National Recording Preservation Foundation grant for the preservation of the Iowa State Lecture series recordings (2020).

 

In 2023, Rosie embarked on a new chapter by founding the The AV Collective, further solidifying their commitment to enhancing the world of audiovisual preservation and community engagement.

 

rrowe@theavcollective.space

 

 

Contacts