Details
Art Institute of Chicago
March 4, 2026, 8:45 AM – 5:00 PM
Galactic Conversations in Art Museums
Wednesday, March 4 | 8:45am – 5:00pm
Art Institute of Chicago
Combining the wide-ranging collections in our museums with a spectrum of innovative approaches to gallery teaching and programming creates the potential for bold conversations and galactic audience engagement. How can museums be sites for hopeful, experiential, and respectful learning with relevant cultures in museums? How do we make space for each other to have meaningful conversations to expand our understanding of past and present lived experiences?
This Preconvention seeks to amplify interdisciplinary approaches to engagement in art museums. Our featured keynote presentation will be led by Vanessa Sanchez and Lala Bolander from Yollcalli Arts Reach, the award-winning initiative of the National Museum of Mexican Art, which offers free arts and culture programming to teens and young adults. Additionally, you’ll participate in breakout sessions that demonstrate innovative approaches to connecting audiences with museum collections from gallery games, to improv, to poetry writing—and exchange ideas about how to adapt these strategies to your own gallery teaching or program development. You will be empowered to launch new approaches that make cosmic connections with your audiences in creative and dynamic ways.
Ticket Price:
With Convention Registration $180.00
Without Convention Registration $215.00
With Convention Registration $180.00
Without Convention Registration $215.00
Registration Deadline: February 13, 2026
Transportation to and from the Art Institute of Chicago, as well as morning coffee/tea service, lunch, and a closing reception (cash bar) are included in registration. Additional details—including pickup and return times—will be provided in a Know Before You Go communication to help you plan your day.
Have you registered for NAEA26? There’s still time to get the best rate and be part of the largest gathering of visual arts, design, and media arts educators in the world! Click here to register!