2024 Convening: The Civic Role of the Museum Trustee

Join us for 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.

Join us for engaging conversations such as fireside chats, panels, art tours, and small group discussions with art world leaders and peer trustees. 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. Here is the official schedule:

Thursday, April 11, 2024 | Welcome

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: EXPO CHICAGO & Vernissage

Navy Pier Chicago

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: BTA Welcome Reception: Exhibition Preview featuring McArthur Binion and Jules Allen

GRAY Chicago

Friday, April 12, 2024 | Mainstage Day

Hosted by the Art Institute of Chicago

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Welcome Remarks

Raymond J. McGuire (Chairman, Studio Museum in Harlem; Trustee, Whitney Museum of American Art), Victoria Rogers (Trustee, Studio Museum in Harlem, Brooklyn Museum), and James Rondeau (President & Director, Art Institute of Chicago) ​​

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Keynote

​Bryan Stevenson (Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative)

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Lessons on Leadership: Black Progress in the New Age of DEI

Toni Cook Bush (President, JADD Capital LLC; Regent, Smithsonian Institute) in conversation with ​Michelle T. Boone (President & CEO, The Poetry Foundation) and Angelique Power (President & CEO, The Skillman Foundation)

1:25 PM – 3:25 PM: 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 (Chairman, Studio Museum in Harlem; 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)
• Positioning Yourself As An Effective Trustee, ​led by Dr. Joy Simmons (Trustee, Smithsonian American Art Museum) and Kent Kelley (Trustee, High Museum of Art)
• Museum Financial Sustainability, led by ​Eric McKissack (Trustee, Art Institute of Chicago) and ​​Nickol Hackett (Trustee, MCA Chicago)
• Diversifying Museum Leadership, ​led by ​Thelma Golden (Director & Chief Curator of Studio Museum in 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, Studio Museum in Harlem)

3:40 PM – 4:40 PM: Artist and Museums: Transforming the Culture

Denise B. Gardner (Board Chair, Art Institute of Chicago) in conversation with ​Dawoud Bey and Nick Cave

4:40 PM – 5:20 PM: Ideas Into Action + Closing Reflections

Diane Jean-Mary (Executive Director, Black Trustee Alliance)

6:30 PM – 9:30 PM: Seated Dinner Celebration

Driehaus Museum

Saturday, April 13, 2024 | Art Around Chicago

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Architecture Boat Tour

Led by artist Amanda Williams 

In partnership with EXPO Chicago, all BTA Convening attendees will also receive special invitations to the fair’s Saturday VIP programming.

​Lodging and Travel FAQs:

• The booking window for discounted rates with our official hotel block partners, 21C Hotel and Chicago Athletic Association Hotel is now 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.
• For detailed arrival instructions (including addresses, parking, meet up points) at Convening venues, please reference this link.

For questions, please contact us via email at events@blacktrusteealliance.org