2025 Arts Administrators of Color Network Annual Convening
2025 Convening Agenda
Day 1:
Saturday, November 8
📍 Nate Holden Performing Arts Center
(by way of Ebony Repertory Theatre)
Morning: Opening Gathering
9:00–10:00 AM
Registration & Coffee/Tea + Light Breakfast Snacks
10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Saturday Keynote: In This Moment: What Matters, What’s Missing, and What’s Next featuring Amber Hamilton
A real-talk session on leadership, purpose, and joy in the arts — equal parts reflection, humor, and call to action.
Midday: Site Visits & Workshops
12:00–12:45 PM
Travel to Site Visits & Get Comfy
You’ll select one site visit experience to engage in for the afternoon. All locations are within a 10–20-minute drive (depending on traffic). Our site visits offer intimate spaces for community building over a shared meal, connection with local BIPOC arts leaders and organizations, and hands-on engagement with the arts. Each experience includes a dynamic workshop, community conversation, and food from local BIPOC restaurants — creating space for reflection, creativity, and joy in practice.
1:00–2:00 PM
Networking Lunch + Welcome from Local Organizations
2:00–4:00 PM
Site Visit Workshops, Museum Tours, and Community Conversations
Site Visit Locations & Workshops
Some site visits are fully hosted by the site’s phenomenal team, while others feature workshops led by AAC community members from across the country. Stay tuned for more details about each experience in our next announcement.
View Site Visit + Workshop Details
Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (Ebony Repertory Theatre)
California African American Museum (CAAM)
Japanese American National Museum (JANM)
Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC)
Blackbird House
Evening: Explore & Connect
5:00–9:00 PM
Dinner on your own + optional social gatherings
Enjoy free time to explore LA or join hosted “dine-arounds.” Local partners will offer recommendations and gathering spots.
Day 2:
Sunday, November 9
📍 LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes & El Pueblo Historic District
Morning: Reflection & Movement
8:30–9:30 AM
Breakfast Buffet + Networking
10:00–10:30 AM
Morning Check-In and Reflection Activity (special guest to be announced soon)
10:30–11:30 AM
Sunday Keynote: Dance as Resistance, Joy as Practice featuring CONTRA-TIEMPO Activist Dance Theater
An embodied movement experience exploring joy, resistance, and collective care through dance and community.
Afternoon: Breakouts & Community Building
11:30–11:45 AM
Transition to Breakout Sessions
11:45 AM–12:45 PM
12:45–2:00 PM
Lunch + Affinity Space Conversations
Take a lunch break, connect with peers, visit our vendor market, or stop by the Chinese American Museum — located just steps away in the El Pueblo Historic District.
2:00–2:15 PM
Transition to Next Sessions
2:15–3:15 PM
The Indigenous and BIPOC Vendor Market will be open throughout the day.
The nearby Chinese American Museum is a cultural landmark celebrating Asian American history and community in Los Angeles — a must-visit during your convening experience.
Closing Celebration
3:30–6:00 PM
Reception & Vendor Fair
Join us for a DJ-led reception with food, drinks, and community celebration to close out the weekend with joy and dance. Featuring local Indigenous and BIPOC-owned vendors offering art, jewelry, and wellness goods.
Sunday Venue Partners expanding beyond our main venue La Plaza and into the historical district
Chinese American Museum (CAM)
AAC is proud to partner with the Chinese American Museum, Southern California’s first museum dedicated to the Chinese American experience. Attendees are invited to explore the galleries during Sunday’s convening.
Museum of Social Justice (MoSJ)
AAC is honored to partner with the Museum of Social Justice, showcasing stories of activism and resilience. On Sunday, attendees can join breakout sessions and view Comrade Sisters: Women of the Black Panther Party (Aug 9, 2025–Jan 11, 2026).
