The Black Trustee Alliance 2024 Convening
Registrations are now closed for the 2024 BTA Annual Convening.
All registrations after Wednesday, March 20th will be placed on a waitlist. Should capacity permit attendance, we will confirm via email by Friday, March 29th.
Please reach out to events@blacktrusteealliance.com with any questions.
We are thrilled to announce the Black Trustee Alliance 2024 Convening in Chicago on Thursday, April 11 - Saturday, April 13 alongside EXPO CHICAGO.
The BTA Convening is an annual invitation-only event designed to equip Black trustees with the resources to bring meaningful and lasting change to their institutions. The Convening offers a space for Black trustees to speak candidly about challenges they are facing, exchange knowledge with peers and leaders in the field, and build relationships that strengthen their collective impact.
We are thrilled to announce our official 2024 Convening program, featuring engaging conversations with art world leaders, private art excursions, and candid closed-door discussions with fellow Black art trustees.
April 11, 2024
EXPO Chicago & Vernissage | Navy Pier Chicago
BTA Welcome Reception: Exhibition Preview featuring McArthur Binion and Jules Allen | GRAY Chicago
April 12, 2024
Hosted by the Art Institute of Chicago
Welcome Remarks
Raymond J. McGuire (Co-Chair, Black Trustee Alliance; Chairman, Studio Museum in Harlem; Trustee, Whitney Museum of American Art), James Rondeau (President & Director, Art Institute of Chicago), and Victoria Rogers (BTA Co-Founder & Co-Chair; Trustee, Studio Museum of Harlem, Brooklyn Museum)
Keynote
Bryan Stevenson (Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative)
Lessons on Leadership: Black Progress in the New Age of DEI
Toni Cook Bush (President, JADD Capital LLC; Regent, Smithsonian Institute) with Michelle T. Boone (President & CEO, The Poetry Foundation) and Angelique Power (President & CEO, The Skillman Foundation)
Artist and Museums: Transforming the Culture
Denise B. Gardner (Board Chair, Art Institute of Chicago) in conversation with Dawoud Bey and Nick Cave
Salon Sessions
Salon Sessions are closed-door conversations that allow Black trustees to be in deep dialogue with each other about challenges, opportunities, and learnings. During these sessions, Black-trustee participants will have the opportunity to choose two (2) Salon Sessions to attend. All other attendees will be invited to explore the Art Institute’s exhibits or to enjoy an afternoon break.
Board Crisis Management, led by Darrianne Christian (Board Chair, Newfields) and Raymond J. McGuire (Co-Chair, Black Trustee Alliance; Chairman; Trustee, Whitney Museum of American Art)
Becoming a Board Chair, led by Dr. Constance W. Rice (Board Chair, Seattle Art Museum) and James Thornton (Board Chair, Baltimore Museum of Art)
Museum Financial Sustainability, led by Eric McKissack (Trustee, Art Institute of Chicago) and Nickol Hackett (Trustee, MCA Chicago)
Positioning Yourself as an Effective Trustee, led by Dr. Joy Simmons (Trustee, Smithsonian American Art Museum) and Kent Kelley (Trustee, High Museum of Art)
The Search: Advocating for Black Museum Directors, led by Thelma Golden (Director & Chief Curator, Studio Museum of Harlem) and Brooke Minto (Executive Director & CEO, Columbus Museum of Art),
What I Wish I Knew As A First Time Trustee, led by AC Hudgins (Trustee, MoMA) and Dr. Anita Blanchard (Trustee, Art Institute of Chicago; Trustee, Studio Museum in Harlem)
Closing Reflections: Ideas Into Action
Diane Jean-Mary (Executive Director, Black Trustee Alliance)
Private Cocktails and Dinner Celebration | Driehaus Museum
April 13, 2024
Art Around Chicago, featuring an Architecture Boat Tour with artist Amanda Williams
In partnership with EXPO Chicago, all BTA Convening attendees will also receive special invitations to the fair’s Saturday VIP programming, to be announced in the coming weeks.
Lodging and Travel FAQs:
The booking window for discounted rates with our official hotel block partners, 21C Hotel and Chicago Athletic Association Hotel is closed.
Local transportation will be provided to all guests between our official convening venues, including our partner hotels (21C Hotel and Chicago Athletic Association Hotel) and programming sites.
If you are not staying at a partner hotel, we ask that you make their way to the hotel for provided transportation or travel directly to the venues via separate transportation.
Upon registration, you will receive an email with a brief survey for completion to inform us how we can best support your convening experience and accommodate participant preferences.
For questions, please contact us via email at events@blacktrusteealliance.org
Please note this is a private invitation-only event. If you would like to extend an invitation to a Black art trustee, academic, or civic/cultural leader in your network, please contact us via email. All guests must be officially invited and registered in advance.
BTA Convening is presented by Northern Trust, with support from Ariel Investments, Ford Foundation, Sotheby’s, Museum Exchange, Terra Foundation for American Art, The Joyce Foundation, Driehaus Foundation, Slover Linett at NORC, Barbara and Amos Hostetter, Edward Greene, Denise B. Gardner, Pamela J. Joyner, and Victoria Rogers.