The 2016 Art Works Conference will be held on January 27th, 2016 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
The one day conference titled "Flourish! How the Arts Will Thrive and Grow in the Next Decade" will feature:
- a keynote address,
- plenary panel discussion
- a luncheon with entertainment from a Performing and Touring Roster artist
- 5 repeating break -out sessions
- 3 workshops
- a concluding reception
The entire program will take place in the Convention Center on the 27th. A limited number of rooms are being reserved for our conference at the Hilton Garden Inn across the street. Please book early to secure the best available rates.
NOTE: The online "Early Bird" registration for our conference will be up and live later this month.
The list of topics and speakers so far include:
Keynote Speaker, Sheila Johnson, a nationally known business leader, arts patron, education advocate and a musician in her own right. She will speak on the theme in the title: what it will take for arts organizations to thrive and grow over the next ten years.
A Plenary Session Panel will include our 5 break-out session leaders discussing arts sustainability and the challenges for arts organizations over the next ten years. They will be highlighting the areas they will be covering in the afternoon sessions:
Nello Mc Daniel, Director of Arts Action Research: Strategic Planning that serves as a roadmap to success and achievement instead of an impediment to your mission.
Russell Willis Taylor, recently of the Center for Non-Profit Excellence: Building a Sustainable Business Model that works for non-profit arts organizations in an increasingly competitive market.
Margy Waller, Senior Fellow at Topos Partnership and Founder of Arts on the Streets: Partnerships that Work so you can team up with local business and government leaders to create cultural arts destinations and districts in your own area.
Sarah Cunningham, Virginia Commonwealth University: Key Fundraising Strategies and Resources That Get Overlooked to help you secure the dollars and the opportunities that you may not even know about!
Amy Nisenson, Director of the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation: Building the Board You Need for the Next Decade so you can achieve the outcomes to keep your organization successful and growing.
Our featured luncheon artist will be Victor Haskins and his trio. Victor is a member of the VCA Performing and Touring Roster.
After lunch, each of our 5 presenters will conduct 2 sequential break-out sessions on their respective topics.
For our mid -afternoon sessions we will host three concurrent, non-repeating workshops on the following topics:
Marketing: How to Attract and Retain a Loyal Following. What are the communication and branding strategies you need to flourish.
Arts Therapy and Community Partnerships for Military and Veterans. What do these populations really need and how can arts organizations help?
Arts Education Beyond the SOL's. How do you leave a lasting impression and a creative imprint with your educational outreach?
A final list of participating leaders for the workshops will be announced later in the month.
At the conclusion of the day, we hope you will stay and mingle for our social hour and networking reception.
Watch for further details and for our Early Bird Online registration later this month. And SAVE THE DATE OF JANUARY 27TH for "Flourish! How the Arts Will Thrive and Grow in the Next Decade".
