Conference Venue Information

Monday 16 September - Pre-conference day

On Monday 16 September, there are two venues for workshops. Be sure to double-check the location of the workshops you registered for in your confirmation email! 

• Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, Bijlokekaai 7, 9000 Ghent (easy access via STAM, Godshuizenlaan 2)

• Virginie Lovelinggebouw (VAC), Koningin Maria Hendrikaplein 87, 9000 Ghent (next to Gent-Sint-Pieters Railway Station)

Tuesday 17 through Thursday 19 September - Main Conference

The main conference takes place from Tuesday 17 through Thursday 19 September. The venue is:

• Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, Bijlokekaai 7, 9000 Ghent (easy access via STAM, Godshuizenlaan 2)

📍 This map on Google Maps shows you the exact location of both venues and how to get from one to the other.

The conference secretariat can be reached by email and by phone:

• ✉ Email Address: [email protected]

• ☎ Phone: +32 9 233 86 60

At the Conference Venue

✎ Registration Desk

To collect your badge or speak to a member of the conference team, please visit our registration desk situated at the entrance of the main conference venue, Muziekcentrum De Bijloke. 

The registration desk will be staffed at the following times:

• Monday 16 September, 9.00 am - 7.30 pm

• Tuesday 17 September, 8.00 am - 7.00 pm

• Wednesday 18 September, 8.00 am - 6.30 pm

• Thursday 19 September, 8:00 am - 7:00 pm

Badges & Tickets

You’ll receive a conference name badge and lanyard when you check in at the registration desk. A red lanyard will indicate whether you agree to have your photograph taken. Your badge will serve as your entry pass to the conference venue during the conference week. If you signed up for the welcome reception and conference dinner during registration, your badge holder will include your tickets for these events. Please remember to also bring your conference badge to verify your identity.

ⓘ Getting Help

People wearing a iPRES 2024 crew T-shirt are available to help answer any questions. You can also contact the conference organizers at the registration desk or spot them by the blue border on their badges. Additionally, feel free to reach out via the #helpdesk channel on Slack.

Lunch & Refreshments

Lunch is served every day at Muziekcentrum De Bijloke on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Monday, workshop attendees will receive a boxed lunch at their first venue (either at De Bijloke or at the Virginie Lovelinggebouw (VAC)). 

All delegates had the opportunity to indicate any dietary restrictions when registering for the conference. If anything changes about your dietary needs, please contact the registration desk. There will be further information at the registration desk about how to get any specially prepared meals.

If for some reason you miss a meal, there are options nearby to have lunch at your own expense. There is a restaurant on the Bijlokesite (STAMcafé) or explore options in the city centre.

ᯤ WiFi

WiFi is available at Muziekcentrum de Bijloke. Joining instructions will be available on location. If you have any trouble connecting to the network, please contact our registration desk.

Power & Sockets

The conference venue is a heritage space, so please be aware that power sockets are limited. If possible, bringing a portable charger or power bank for your phone and laptop might come in handy.

Power will also be available at the registration desk, where you can safely leave your device to charge temporarily.

Pro Tip: Please remember to bring international power plugs and adapters if you're travelling from overseas.

Cloakroom

You can safely store your luggage in the cloakroom, which is always supervised. Large items such as big backpacks must be checked in, as they aren’t allowed in the conference rooms for fire safety reasons.

Photography

A photographer will be present to capture portions of the iPRES 2024 conference. These photos may be used in future iPRES communications. If you do not want your photo taken, please inform the registration desk and they will update your conference lanyard.

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones should be placed on ‘silent’ during the conference sessions. Thank you for your cooperation.

Sponsors

We are very grateful to our sponsors for supporting iPRES 2024! Sponsor booths will be present at the conference centre and we invite you to stop by and meet the teams behind these organisations.

See the Sponsors page on the iPRES 2024 website for further information: https://ipres2024.pubpub.org/sponsors or find them in our app Floq.

Conference Events

Digital Preservation Awards

All iPRES 2024 delegates are invited to join us in celebrating the Digital Preservation Awards 2024 on Monday 16th September, 2024, 5.00 pm—7:15 pm. You do not need to register separately for this event.

The Digital Preservation Awards ceremony will take place at the Muziekcentrum De Bijloke in Ghent, Belgium as part of the iPRES 2024 programme. Workshops on Monday 16th finish between 4.00 and 4.30 pm, so – once you have finished - come straight to the foyer of Muziekcentrum De Bijloke to be part of this wonderful celebration.

The ceremony program will be a fast-paced celebration of outstanding digital preservation work. Discover all categories and finalists here.

Please join us afterwards for your chance to meet and congratulate all of our Digital Preservation Awards finalists, at a reception where drinks and appetisers will be served.

Social Dinners

Make new friends and reconnect with old ones at our social dinners—the perfect way to spend your first evening in Ghent! Enjoy great food and conversation at local restaurants in small groups of up to 10 people, each hosted by a dedicated attendee. It’s a relaxed way to kick off the conference, with everyone covering their own meal. Don’t miss out on this fun Monday night experience — sign up here. First come, first served!

Opening and Closing Ceremony

We invite all iPRES 2024 delegates to attend the opening and closing ceremony! During the opening ceremony on Tuesday, 17 September, we look forward to welcoming you to the conference.

The closing ceremony on Thursday includes the iPRES 2024 Conference Prizes and an official handover to next year’s organisers of iPRES 2025 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Welcome Reception

The Welcome Reception takes place at Handelsbeurs Concertzaal, 6.00 pm - 7.30 pm on Tuesday 17 September.

Address: Kouter 29, 9000 Ghent.

The reception will include drinks, appetisers (including a small surprise you might wanna bring a small bag for). You are free to have dinner in the city afterwards - see our Guide to Ghent for suggestions!

There’s no specific dress code for this event, but feel free to dress up a bit if you’d like to add a touch of flair!

To join this activity, you must be registered for the welcome reception. Please double-check your confirmation email to verify your registration. Upon arrival at the iPRES 2024 registration desk, you’ll receive a voucher that will serve as your entry ticket.

Conference Dinner

The Conference Dinner takes place at room Concertzaal in De Vooruit, 6.30 pm - 00.30 am on Wednesday 18 September.

Address: Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 23, 9000 Ghent - access via Parijsberg (side alleyway of Lammerstraat). The dinner includes drinks, a full meal and entertainment. Don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes!

There’s no specific dress code for this event, but feel free to dress up a bit if you’d like to add a touch of flair!

To join this activity, you must be registered for the conference dinner. Please double-check your confirmation email to verify your registration. Upon arrival at the iPRES 2024 registration desk, you’ll receive a voucher that will serve as your entry ticket.

Boat Trip

Join us for a delightful, optional guided boat tour through the picturesque canals of Ghent after your last session on Wednesday! Boats set sail at 5:30 pm, whisking you away to the dinner venue at De Vooruit, with an estimated arrival at 6:30 pm. Don't miss out on all the fascinating stories and hidden gems of the city of Ghent!

No need to register separately for this activity! All iPRES 2024 delegates are welcome.

Professional Visits

All professional visits are fully booked and cannot be changed during the conference, as it is too late for our site visit hosts to accommodate adjustments. Thank you for your understanding.

You will receive all practical details by email directly from the hosting organisation you selected. This includes instructions for getting there.

Local Information

We carefully curated an exclusive Guide to Ghent for the iPRES 2024 community. Pick up your free map at the registration desk or visit this link for your digital copy: bit.ly/iPRES_GuideToGhent

Other useful sources of information are https://visit.gent.be/en and the city’s tourist information centre at Sint Veerleplein 5, 9000 Gent (open between 10 am and 5 pm).

Health & Welfare of Delegates

• All expectations outlined in the iPRES 2024 Code of Conduct should be observed by all conference delegates, including those participating remotely.

• iPRES 2024 cannot accept any liability for personal injuries or for loss or damage to property belonging to delegates, either during, or as a result of the conference. Please check the validity of your own personal insurance before travelling.

Communication and Content

Please find our Communication and Content Guide here.

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