Wednesday, March 4, 2020

8:30 AM – 2:30 PM Pre-Conference Workshops 

Check out the available pre-conference workshops to find a learning opportunity that's right for you. Pre-registration is required.  

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Pre-Conference Tours

Check out the available pre-conference tours to find a learning opportunity that's right for you. Pre-registration is required.  

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Opening Town Hall

Museums Leading in Anxious Times

Location: Bunker Hill at Omni LA Hotel, Second Floor

Cost: Included with conference registration

Moderator: Kristin Sakoda, Director, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture

Speakers: Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, President and Director, Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County; Ann Burroughs, Executive Director, Japanese American National Museum; Megan Steinman, Director, The Underground Museum; Cameron Shaw, Deputy Director and Chief Curator, California African American Museum

Climate change, economic inequality, racism and discrimination, homelessness, fake news…there are a myriad of issues that can cause a person to be anxious. About two in three Americans say they are extremely or somewhat anxious about keeping themselves and their family safe, paying bills, and their health—and the rate is even higher for Millennials.

Can museums help alleviate anxiety—or help address the root causes? In Canada, doctors are prescribing museum visits to their patients and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has a full-time art therapist on staff. In the United Kingdom, reports have been published outlining how museums are improving people’s health and quality of life. A new exhibition in a shipping container in Atlanta focuses on the challenges and bias of homelessness to increase empathy for those facing this reality. And many museums are inspiring the public to take action to mitigate the challenges of climate change.

What are Los Angeles museums doing to address these concerns? A panel of museum leaders, led by Kristin Sakoda, the Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, will share their stories and hopes for the future.

The winners of the Superintendent’s Award for Excellence in Museum Education will also be presented by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, or his designee.
Sponsored by LA Tourism and Convention Board 

5:00 PM – 8:00 PM 20/20 Vision: Opening Night in DTLA

Location: Omni Grand Café, The Wells Fargo Museum, The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Broad

Cost: $45 Pre-Registration / $50 On Site

Kick off your conference with three museum experiences with distinct "visions." Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) has transformed to become a hotbed of art, museums, and culture while retaining a rich history. Begin an amazing evening by rolling back to the days of horse drawn stagecoaches at The Wells Fargo Museum. Next, stroll through the only artist-founded museum in Los Angeles, The Museum of Contemporary Art, which has a diverse history of ground-breaking, historically-significant exhibitions. The final stop is The Broad, one of Los Angeles's newer museums and home to one of the world’s leading collections of postwar and contemporary art. Included in your ticket is a light dinner, drinks, dessert, and admission to three museums. All of the museums are a very short walk from the conference hotel, the Omni LA. Entertainment will be provided by VersaStyle Dance at the Omni Grand Café and by Chulita Vinyl at The Broad.

View the event agenda (subject to change).