Welcome

Dear AAMG community:

After careful consideration, the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 AAMG Annual Conference that was to take place at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS. However, we are excited to announce that the conference will still take place in a virtual format, which is scheduled for June 15-26, 2020.

This is a first for AAMG, as we have always held our annual conference live and in-person since its inception in the 1980s. So this year’s conference theme, Risk and Bravery: Academic Museums Respond, is a fitting title as we embark on this new virtual platform. So let me be the first to welcome all AAMG members and guests to our #AAMG2020 Virtual Conference. We have an exciting and inspiring program of webinar sessions, panels, roundtables, and workshops planned. 

Our decision to move this flagship annual event to an online platform was not taken lightly. The health, safety, and well-being of our members, sponsors, and conference participants is of paramount importance. AAMG has been closely monitoring updates and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as federal, state, and local government agencies and officials. Due to the recommended social distancing guidelines and travel advisories and restrictions being placed on our members, sponsors, and guests that would typically attend the conference, it would not be feasible or practical to hold an in-person event.

Even though we cannot meet in person, our virtual conference will be of the same high quality that you have come to expect from AAMG’s annual conferences. While you are attending the various webinars and Virtual Affinity Conversations, I hope you will make new friends and take new ideas back to your colleagues that will continue to strengthen our field.

I would like to acknowledge Craig Hadley, Katie Lee-Koven, and Dr. Natalie Marsh—this year’s AAMG conference co-directors—for their many hours of work to prepare for this event. I would also like to recognize and thank the AAMG conference committee, the entire AAMG board of directors, Tracy Fitzpatrick – AAMG Vice President of Programs, and Total Management Solutions (AAMG’s management company) for their contributions as well.

In addition, we would not be able to offer such a great conference format without the generous support of our various sponsors.

Finally, I would like to extend my gratitude to the KU Spencer Museum of Art and the KU Natural History Museum staff for all of their support during this transition as we move our conference to a virtual platform.

Sincerely,

John Versluis, President, AAMG

president@aamg-us.org

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