Arts Administrators of Color Network Brings 2025 Convening to Los Angeles in First-Ever West Coast Gathering
Co-Hosted with Creative West’s Leaders of Color Network Program to Expand BIPOC Leadership and Community Care
LOS ANGELES — The Arts Administrators of Color Network (AAC) is proud to announce the return of its Annual Convening, happening November 8–9, 2025, in Los Angeles, California—marking the first time the event will take place on the West Coast.
Since 2017, the AAC Convening has grown from a 75-person gathering to a nationally recognized convening for hundreds of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and global majority artists and arts administrators. From immersive workshops to joyful community celebrations, the two-day event offers critical opportunities for healing, learning, and building together.
“AAC’s convening feels like a family reunion—full of hugs, laughter, joy, and vibrant energy. It’s a rare and powerful opportunity to gather in person, reconnect with familiar faces, meet new ones, expand our circles, and build the skills and strategies we need to advance our collective and individual work. At this year’s convening, we will lift each other up and refill our cups, so we can return to our local communities recharged and supported by a national network we can always lean on,” remarked Erika Hawthorne, interim executive director and founding board member of AAC.
The 2025 Annual Convening will be co-hosted in partnership with Creative West’s Leaders of Color Program. With more than 15 years of experience cultivating cultural leadership across the Western U.S., Creative West has built a dynamic network of over 200 alumni working to transform the arts and culture sector. This partnership brings together two nationally respected initiatives committed to uplifting artists and administrators.
“This partnership with AAC is a natural extension of our work,” said Anika Tené, director of grants, awards, and programs at Creative West. “By bringing the convening to the Creative West region, we’re not just creating space—we’re affirming the leadership, wisdom, and vision of BIPOC artists and culture workers who are shaping the future of the field.”
This year’s convening will be hosted across two iconic Los Angeles venues: the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (provided by way of Ebony Repertory Theatre) and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, with additional programming happening throughout the city. The experience is being curated in collaboration with Blackbird Collective PBC, an L.A.-based life-work gathering space and community that celebrates creativity, promotes wellness, inspires productivity, and encourages activism.
“I’m so thrilled that this convening is coming to Los Angeles for the first time,” said Deliasofia Zacarias, Board Secretary, AAC. “It’s incredibly meaningful to bring together artists and arts administrators of color on the West Coast—especially in Los Angeles, a city that has long been a hub for cultural innovation, grassroots organizing, and artistic expression. I’ve watched this gathering grow over the years, and I’m grateful to Creative West for partnering with us to expand AAC’s reach and invest in the future of arts leadership in a city that reflects so much creative power and diversity.”
The 2025 theme, “Rooted in Care, Rising in Joy,” reflects a commitment to nourishing our global majority community, deepening connection, and uplifting creativity as both resistance and restoration.
Programming
Saturday, November 8
Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (provided by way of Ebony Repertory Theatre) + Local Site Visits
Welcome Plenary + Community Keynote
Site Visits and Workshops at Local Arts Spaces
Evening Social Activities
Sunday, November 9
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes + Breakouts in El Pueblo Historic District
Networking Breakfast + Grounding Kickoff
Outdoor and Indoor Breakout Sessions
Lunch and Affinity Spaces
Closing Celebration with DJ + BIPOC Vendor Fair
Registration opens in June 2025, with a range of ticket options designed to honor diverse capacities and access needs. Attendees can choose from several tiers: the Community Sustainer ticket at $450 covers full registration and helps subsidize others; the Supporter tier at $325 offers near full-cost support; the Solidarity Rate at $200 provides a reduced rate for those who need it; and scholarship registration is available at no cost for individuals with limited financial access (limited availability).
To learn more about the convening and our growing cohort of sponsors visit www.aacnetwork.org/annual-convening. Those interested in becoming a convening sponsor should reach out to Erika Hawthorne at ehawthorne@aacdmv.org for more information.
Stay tuned for upcoming announcements on session proposals, travel guidance, local partners, and more by subscribing to the AAC newsletter at www.aacnetwork.org/subscribe.
The National Leaders of Color Fellowship program (LoCF) is a transformative leadership development experience curated by Creative West that cultivates multicultural leadership in the creative and cultural sector. With partnerships across all United States Regional Arts Organizations (USRAOs), the program has expanded nationwide and its mission has become a national endeavor.
The Arts Administrators of Color Network is a national support network that harnesses the power of artists, arts administrators, and organizations of people of the global majority to connect and expand BIPOC leadership across the U.S. creative sector. Since its creation in 2016 in Washington, D.C., the organization has held over 30 events, served over 1,000 arts leaders in D.C./Maryland/Virginia, over 200 arts leaders nationally and maintains a network that reaches over 18,000 individuals.
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