2026 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.

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Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

This pre-conference event includes a guided tour of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Read more about the Museum at this link.

Capacity: 45 people

Walking Tour of Boston with Matthew Dickey

This pre-conference event will include a walking tour of Boston with Matthew Dickey, a Boston University alumn and Deputy Director of the Boston Preservation Alliance. More information on the walking tour route is coming soon!

Capacity: 20 people

Midway Studios Visit

This pre-conference event features a visit to Midway Studios artist live & work space. Read more about Midway Studios on their website.

Capacity: 20 people

We are excited to announce that Michelle Rynkewicz with Routledge will be hosting a publishing workshop during our pre-conference day! More information about this workshop will be announced as we approach the conference.

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

Join us for a exciting and educational post-conference day at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA, a short 30-minute train ride from downtown Boston. The day will include guided tours of Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone and the newly re-opened East India Marine Hall, followed by lunch along with a presentation and discussion with the Learning & Community Engagement team, and then free time to explore the rest of the museum.

Capacity: 40 people

Registration: $85 per person. The price includes an MBTA return commuter pass, boxed lunch, museum admission, and a guided tour of our Edmonia Lewis exhibition.