The Visual Resources Association (VRA) seeks a partner to create a design for the Association’s 2025 Annual Conference in Portland, OR, October 7–9, 2025. The design should communicate both the VRA’s identity and the character of the host city.

The Visual Resources Association invites proposals for our 2025 Annual Conference, to be held at the Porter Hotel in Portland, OR, October 7–9, 2025. The submission deadline is Friday, March 14, 2025, at 11:59 pm PDT.

As we look ahead to VRA 2025, we are excited to announce a carefully considered shift in the structure for our upcoming annual conference. VRA 2025 will feature two distinct components: virtual pre-conference programming held a week prior to the main event, followed by three days of on-site conference programming at the Porter Hotel in Portland, OR.

Minneapolis, Minnesota is part of the homeland of the Dakota and Anishinaabe (Ojibwe). Today, Dakota, Ojibwe, and many other Indigenous Americans make their home in the Twin Cities. As the Visual Resources Association visits Minneapolis for our 2024 Annual Conference, we acknowledge and pay respect to the Indigenous people of Minneapolis, past and present.

Cultural heritage work has both a colonial history and present. As such, it is incumbent upon us to lessen the ongoing, harmful impact of settler colonialism. This, however, is not a statement of passivity. As a profession, there are things each of us can do.

Thinking of joining us at VRA 2024 in Minneapolis? As of August 27th, all rooms are sold out at the former $179/night rate. However, we were able to secure additional upgraded rooms at $209 (+taxes) per night. Be sure to make your reservation by next Friday, September 6, 2024 to secure this rate (subject to availability) and join us October 8-10th, on-site at the Embassy Suites in downtown Minneapolis.

The VRA Travel Awards Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of Travel Awards for the 2024 VRA conference in Minneapolis, MN.

This is the July edition of VRA “Board Buzz”! This month's Buzz features President Xiaoli Ma sharing why she joined VRA, updates from CaMS, plus reminders for all of our recent announcements and upcoming deadlines.

Check out the Attendee Guide to get all of your questions answered, whether you're a first-time attendee or seasoned conference-goer -- it includes info for virtual attendees, transportation, accessibility and more.

The VRA Executive Board is pleased to announce the VRA 2024 Conference keynote speaker, Kao Kalia Yang. She is a Hmong American teacher, speaker, and writer. The Convocation Keynote is scheduled for October 8th, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. CDT, and will be open to the public via a YouTube livestream.

Introducing the VRA “Board Buzz”! This month’s Buzz includes a message from the Board President, Xiaoli Ma, and reminders for all of our recent announcements.

We are delighted to announce that VRA Travel Awards are available for attendance at the 2024 VRA conference in Minneapolis, October 8-10, 2024! The application submission deadline is July 8 at 11:59 pm EDT​. The list of recipients will be announced on the VRA listserv the week of July 31.

The 50th Anniversary Edition of the VRA Bulletin (VRAB) is now available. This special edition celebrates 50 years of VRAB and all of the editors, advisors, and authors who have contributed to its legacy. Explore the new issue of the VRA's fully open access journal below.

The VRA Conference Planning Committee welcomes applications for in-person poster presenters at the conference. Unfortunately, at this time there is no virtual option for posters. The poster session will be held Wednesday, October 9, 4:30 p.m. CDT.

The VRA Awards Committee is seeking nominations for the 2024 Distinguished Service Award and the Nancy DeLaurier Award. These awards exist to honor outstanding efforts and people in visual resources that may otherwise go unrecognized.