UPDATE: The AAMI 2020 Convening has been postponed.
Dear Colleagues,
Amidst this COVID19 pandemic, we are thinking of you all during this challenging time for our world and especially in our museum community. Out of consideration for health and safety, we have made the decision to postpone this year’s AAMI Convening, which was scheduled to take place in Richmond, VA June 18-19. We do not yet have a new date set but will be in touch as plans develop.
We will be staying active on Twitter, and will be making plans for possible digital convenings and webinars in the coming months. Stay tuned for more information about opportunities to connect, and feel free to reach out to us at artmuseuminterpretation@gmail.com if you have questions or feedback.
In the meantime, please take care and stay safe,
The AAMI Board of Directors
President, Swarupa Anila, Detroit Institute of Arts
Vice President, Julia Forbes, High Museum of Art
Treasurer, Rosie May, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
Secretary, Margaret Sternbergh, Independent Interpretation Specialist
Jennifer Foley, The Albright-Knox Art Gallery
Emily Fry, The Art Institute of Chicago
Alison Crites, Detroit Institute of Arts
Courtney Morano, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Nina Pelaez, Williams College Museum of Art
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Join us at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia from June 18-19, 2020 for the Annual Association for Art Museum Interpretation Conference.
The 2020 annual meeting will feature two days of interdisciplinary panels, presentations, in-gallery exploration, and roundtable discussions addressing many of our field’s most pressing issues: establishing shared language, advocating for our work, and supporting self-care and professional development. Rapid-fire case study presentations will spark your imagination and topical roundtable conversations will provide you with new perspectives on old problems. Scroll down to see our schedule-at-a-glance.
SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE
The Convening Committee has been working hard to plan AAMI 2020 in Richmond! Here’s a preview of what’s in store.
Wednesday, June 17
No formal activities planned but we may organize some casual meet ups in the evening – stay tuned.
VMFA is open Wednesday until 9pm!
Thursday, June 18
8:30 am Coffee, networking, icebreaker
9:30 am Welcome remarks & AAMI updates
10:45 am Case study presentations
*** Still accepting proposals until March 20! Submit yours here.***
12 pm Lunch on your own (a list of nearby restaurants will be provided)
1:30 pm In-Gallery Explorations – choose from multiple tracks
3:30 pm Panel: Problematic Legacies
- Juline Chevalier, Head of Interpretation, Minneapolis Institute of Art
- Celeste Fetta, Director of Education, VMFA
- Gamyyne Guillotte, Director, Interpretation & Public Engagement, Baltimore Museum of Art
- And more to come!
5:30 pm Reception
Friday, June 19
8:30 am Coffee and networking
9:15 am Case study presentations. *** Still accepting proposals until March 20! Submit yours here.
10:45 am Interpretation as Field: presentation by Irina Mihalache, University of Toronto, and Courtney Murfin, Royal Ontario Museum, on findings from the first-ever comprehensive and interdisciplinary survey on museum interpretation
11:45 am Birds of a Feather Lunches: catered lunch & small group conversations
1:30 pm Hands-On Workshops: choose from multiple tracks
3:00 pm Closing activity
* Please note, activities and times are subject to change
REGISTRATION AND FEES
Registration coming soon. A conference only ticket is $120. AAMI Membership and conference bundle is $160.
Become an inaugural member of AAMI at the reduced price of $40/year with our membership and conference bundle ticket. Your membership will go directly towards supporting AAMI operating costs and it will help you stay better connected to your interpretation colleagues.
In this first year, membership benefits will include:
- Members-only events at the conference
- The opportunity to apply for leadership positions
- An AAMI Mug
During the course of the year we will be adding a members’ directory and vetted interpretation resources such as plans and job descriptions. For more information, please see the membership page.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This convening is designed for professionals engaged in the work of interpretation at art museums. If you would like to register more than 3 people from your institution, please email artmuseuminterpretation@gmail.com before registering.
LODGING
Please refer to this list of recommended hotels within a short drive/Lyft of VMFA.
Delta Hotels, Richmond Downtown
ABOUT RICHMOND
Richmond, Virginia, known as the River City, is one of the nation’s oldest cities! While Richmond is most well known for its long history, it has also been named a top food destination. Enjoy all Richmond has to offer while you are here!
PARTICIPATE
Case Study presentations have become something of a tradition at AAMI annual convenings. Presenters speak candidly about real-life interpretive problems, challenges, and opportunities they’ve encountered and solved, often through creative and experimental means. Attendees value the opportunity to hear from a range of colleagues and learn about varied approaches to tackling issues that many of us face.
The Convening Committee welcomes proposals for 10-minute-long case study presentations at AAMI 2020 in Richmond. Submit your proposal by completing this submission form by midnight on March 20th. Notifications to accepted presenters will be made in early April.
Questions?
Please email artmuseuminterpretation@gmail.com.