Past Convenings
2023
We Will Flourish: Building Our Table, Defining Our Legacy!
The 2023 Convening, held in Chicago from November 11 + 12, 2023, brought together over 300 arts leaders of color for two days of enriching programming and engagement with the local arts scene.
Our first day kicked off at The Chicago Cultural Center with a welcome from Karla Estela Rivera and keynote remarks from Tracie D. Hall who most recently served as the tenth Executive Director of the American Library Association (ALA), and Erin Harkey, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Commissioner of Cultural Affairs and Events for City of Chicago. This was followed by six dynamic site visits to local BIPOC arts and culture organizations across the city. Our second day began at School of the Art Institute with a moving performance by Chicago Poet Laureate, Avery Young and a plenary workshop led by Jordan W. Carter and Beryl Briane Ford called “I Tried to Work it Away: Attending to Our Collective Grief.” We had 11 breakout sessions led by experts from within our community and wrapped up with a closing celebration complete with a local DJ, buffet, free headshots and more.
Sponsors: The Driehaus Foundation
2022
Our 2022 Convening marked our first in-person gathering after the pandemic, serving 200+ arts leaders in a much-needed family reunion at Eaton DC, filled with networking, learning, and celebration.
The day kicked off with a networking brunch, followed by an energizing opening featuring music from DJ RWEONTHEAIR?! and a town hall welcome by AAC Board Co-Chairs. A keynote by educator and activist Kendall Isadore set the stage for impactful discussions.
Attendees engaged in networking workshops over lunch, led by Ruby Lopez Harper (CERF+) and Carol Foster (IABD), exploring leadership in times of change and performing arts readiness. The afternoon featured a powerful conversation between AAC’s new Executive Director, Karla Estela Rivera, and founding Executive Director, Quanice Floyd, followed by a networking session on building community with Sierra Van Ryck deGroot (Museum Hue).
The evening wrapped up with The Turn Up after-party, curated by Sheldon Scott and featuring DJ One Luv, BIPOC vendors, interactive art projects, wellness activities, and a special showcase of the Eaton exhibition The Gender Within: The Art of Identity.
2020
In response to the global pandemic, we pivoted to a virtual format, expanding our reach to over 500 arts leaders across the country and internationally for two days of highly engaging programming.
Day 1 kicked off with an opening performance, followed by 14 breakout sessions covering topics such as "Owning the Room While Young, Gifted, and BIPOC" and "Survive and Thrive: Navigating Cultural and Racial Inequities in Organizations." We also hosted seven identity-based affinity spaces, providing culturally affirming spaces for peers to connect and engage in meaningful conversations.
Day 2 featured plenary remarks from Carlton Turner, Lisa Gold, Denise Saunders Thompson, and Anne Huang, followed by another full day of breakout sessions. Discussions explored critical topics such as mapping power in the nonprofit arts sector as a strategy for collective liberation, balancing artistic practice with administrative work, and salary negotiation strategies. The day also included a wellness break facilitated by a community healer and concluded with a powerful closing plenary featuring Radiah Harper, Roberta Uno, Ron P. Muriera, Hope Butler (Piscataway), and Robyne Walker-Murphy.
This virtual convening reinforced the importance of connection, learning, and advocacy in the arts, bringing together a global community of BIPOC arts leaders to share, strategize, and build together.
2019
A Year of Growth and Connection
In 2019, we expanded our impact, serving 370+ arts leaders at Eaton DC through dynamic local site visits and engaging sessions on emergency preparedness, advocacy 101, and data-driven storytelling to inform future planning. Attendees explored Washington, D.C., through visits to local cultural organizations and connected with community leaders at dedicated booths throughout the gathering.
As always, we made space for joy and celebration with a turn-up moment at a local restaurant—because #WeDoExistAAC. We were proud to receive support from our Cousin’s Regime, helping us continue to grow and serve our community.
Sponsors: Goucher College Master of Arts in Arts Administration
2018
The 2018 AAC Annual Convening, held at The Motor House in Baltimore, MD, served over 125 arts leaders in partnership with Urban Arts Leadership of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance. This gathering brought together arts leaders of color for a day of learning, networking, and community-building, featuring dynamic discussions, interactive workshops, and opportunities for professional growth.
The day opened with the plenary session, "We Aren’t Buzzwords," featuring equity and inclusion leaders such as Denise Saunders Thompson (IABD), Makeba Clay (The Phillips Collection), Nicole Ivy (GWU), S. Rasheem (BeMore LLC), and Kibibi Ajanku (GBCA). Breakout sessions explored key topics, including Strengthening Community & Leadership in the Arts, Creative Funding & Sustainability for Arts Organizations, and Decolonizing the Arts & Advancing Equity.
The convening concluded with a plenary on arts entrepreneurship, followed by a networking happy hour hosted by Maryland Citizens for the Arts. This event reinforced AAC’s mission to empower artists and arts leaders of color, providing essential tools, advocacy strategies, and a strong network for continued success in the arts.
2017
Our first-ever convening took place at the Katzen Arts Center at American University in Washington, D.C., in partnership with American University’s Emerging Arts Leaders Symposium, serving over 75 arts leaders. The gathering brought together arts leaders, advocates, and changemakers to build community, share knowledge, and take action.
The day featured a powerful panel discussion, Inclusion in the Arts: How to Turn “Talk” into Action, moderated by Monica Montgomery of Museum Hue, with insights from regional arts leaders. Attendees participated in dynamic workshops and discussions on topics such as building a strong support network, creative funding models, authentic community engagement, and interview preparation for arts administrators.
The convening also included an award recognition, a networking reception, and closing action steps led by Convening Chair Megan Merchant. With a focus on honoring community agreements and fostering intentional space, this gathering set the foundation for meaningful dialogue and future collaboration in the arts sector.
Sponsors: American University Arts Management Program, Urban Arts Leadership Program (Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance), Midnite Confections Cupcackery, The Tender Rib Catering
Special Thanks: Alison McNeil, Alexander McSwain, Shruthi Mukund and all AAC volunteers and supporters.
