2025 Annual AAAE Conference

Pre- and Post-Conference Add-Ons

Read more about each pre-conference cultural experience below! The pre-conference day is an ADD-ON that you may add to your registration.

I need help adding these experiences to my registration.

City of Asylum @ Alphabet City

Protecting and Celebrating Artistic Expression | 1:00 – 2:00pm | Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. It is through journalistic and artistic expression that we understand ourselves and our stories, build empathy, and reflect critically on our society. In an era of increasing global authoritarianism, how do we protect the work and lives of those who speak truth to power? We are joined by Marianne Borgen, who from 2015-2023 was the Mayor of Oslo in Norway and currently serves as an ICORN board member, and Sarah Rose, Deputy Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania. They will be joined by Larry Siems, writer, journalist, and Chief of Staff at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, and Catherine Skolnicki, Residency Manager at City of Asylum. Together they will also discuss their important, front-line work of defending freedom of expression. After this event, there will be a walking tour (2:00 – 2:45pm) that will give attendees an opportunity to explore the City of Asylum’s Comma House, Jazz House, House Poem, Pittsburgh-Burma House, and Winged House and the Mexican War Streets and Victorian architecture of Pittsburgh’s North Side.

August Wilson African American Cultural Center
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary arts center that is dedicated to the celebration of the African American journey and presenting its unique and extraordinary role in the creation of popular culture in America and beyond. This pre-conference session will feature a guided tour of August Wilson: The Writer’s Landscape, the first-ever exhibition dedicated to the life and works of the Pulitzer Prize-winning, Pittsburgh-born playwright.

Carnegie Museum of Art
Carnegie Museum of Art is one of four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. Together, the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh strive to preserve and expand the resources of art and science as agents of personal growth and social advancement in Pittsburgh and beyond. This pre-conference event will include a guided tour of the museum.

Join this dynamic teaching workshop designed for arts administration educators to enhance their teaching practices and foster more inclusive learning environments.Through this multi-module workshop, aligned with the conference sub-themes, attendees will gain practical teaching insights, explore innovative strategies, and connect with peers. It’s also a great opportunity to network and find potential collaborators for future courses or workshops.

Brett Crawford (Carnegie Mellon University, US), Esther Charron (Bishop’s University, Canada), Gillian Kim (Ohio State University, US), Nupur Sachdeva (Ohio State University, US), Andrew Taylor (American University), and Ximena Varela (American University) will introduce teaching strategies on how arts administration educators can integrate themes such as environment, belonging, and innovation into their curricula.

Pecha Kucha (Japanese for “chit-chat”) is a dynamic presentation style featuring 20 PowerPoint slides that are shown for 20 seconds each (6 minutes and 40 seconds in total), with the image advancing automatically. Originally conceived as a lively alternative to traditional conference presentations, Pecha Kucha has become a global sensation, celebrated for its fast-paced and engaging format.

The AAAE invites you to submit abstracts for Pecha Kucha presentations centered around the conference theme, “Confluence of Cultures“, and the sub-themes of innovation and the environment (though we will consider the other conference sub-themes of belonging, health, and well-being). This captivating pre-conference activity aims to inspire and energize attendees as we kick off our event at Carnegie Mellon University.

Pecha Kuchas are perfect for students, first-time presenters, and those seeking a lower-stakes option. It can spark interest and ignite conversations about significant topics and passion projects. Presentations with strong visual elements shine in this short format. For examples and guidance on creating a Pecha Kucha, visit pechakucha.com

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Please email a 200-word abstract (2-4 paragraphs) including the following:

1. Title of your presentation

2. The main idea of presentation: Summarize your key argument or focus in one or two sentences

3. Connection to the conference theme or sub-theme. Briefly explain how your topic aligns with “Confluence of Cultures or the related sub-themes.

4. Visual Approach: Describe how you plan to use visuals to enhance your presentation’s impact.

Submissions are due by April 18, 2025. We look forward to your creative ideas!

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater

Fallingwater is a house designed in 1935 by renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) for the Kaufmann family, owners of Pittsburgh’s largest department store. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater is one of his most widely acclaimed works and best exemplifies his philosophy of organic architecture: the harmonious union of art and nature.

Fallingwater is located in the mountains of Southwestern Pennsylvania, also known as the Laurel Highlands, in Mill Run, Fayette County, which is about 70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

This post-conference event will be held on Sunday, May 25. We will bus attendees from Carnegie Mellon University to and from Fallingwater. Lunch is included in your post-conference ticket.