VRA 2024 Attendee Guide
About the Schedule
VRA 2024 is a single-track, hybrid conference. A nice thing about single-track programming is that it eliminates the FOMO (fear of missing out) that can arise during multi-track conferences. It also makes it a bit easier for us to offer hybrid programming — live-streaming takes a large amount of money and labor!
While VRA is designed to be as hybrid a conference as possible, workshops, tours, meals, and certain meetings are only available in person.
There are several other opportunities to network, learn, and explore at this year’s conference. Each day includes 15-minute breaks between sessions, an hour and fifteen minutes for lunch, and two coffee breaks. Events like our Welcome Reception, Members Breakfast, and Community Happy Hour are all great ways to make new connections.
All registrants will also have access to a VRA Slack channel where you can interact and share your thoughts throughout the conference.
We also are offering three outstanding tours this year! Conference attendees can take advantage of exclusive tours of two exhibitions at Walker Art Center, Special Collections at Minneapolis Central Library, and the Visual Resources Center at Minneapolis Institute of Art. These all require prior registration, and the Walker has a small fee, so be sure that you’re registered ahead of time: Register for tours here! Please note, the tour registration form is separate from conference registration.
For Virtual Attendees
We will be live streaming all general sessions and certain events like the Convocation Keynote and Awards Ceremony. Certain events, like workshops and the Welcome Reception and Members Breakfast, will only be offered on-site.
All registrants will receive a daily morning email from VRA during the conference with Zoom links for each day. The webinars will be live 15 minutes prior to the start of programming, and remote attendees are encouraged to log in a little early so we can assist with troubleshooting as needed. All registrants will also have access to a VRA Slack channel where you can interact and share your thoughts throughout the conference.
For First-Time Attendees
Each year our association welcomes many who are attending their first or second conference. Even with user-friendly conference programming; a newcomer may have questions, need advice, or simply want help meeting new people in a new place. Our Annual Conference Mentor Program is a fun and collegial program. Both mentors and mentees have found the program enhances their conference experience.
You may request a conference mentor or volunteer as a mentor when you register for the conference, or contact the Membership Committee’s Mentor Coordinator.
For Speakers, Moderators, and Volunteers
All speakers, moderators, and volunteers must register for the conference ahead of time. If you are attending the full conference, you are eligible for $50 off full conference registration. If you are only attending the day of your presentation, you may register for a day pass.
When you register for the full conference as a speaker, you will use the same registration form as all other conference attendees. When you get to the end of the form where it says “How would you like to pay?” please select “Invoice Me” from the list, then click on the “Pay Later” button. Our membership coordinator will add your discount and send you an updated invoice.
All sessions have a moderator. Moderators will be provided with training prior to the session. If you are interested in moderating a session, please reach out to initiatives@vraweb.org.
There are many opportunities to help shape the conference through volunteering. Please reach out to initiatives@vraweb.org if you are interested in lending a hand.
Thank you everyone who is helping to make this year’s conference a success!
Getting Around Minneapolis
Minneapolis offers several ways to get from point A to point B, including an award-winning transit system with light rail and buses. The city is also served by taxis, Uber and Lyft, the famous Skyway System, and bike rentals on the streets with dedicated bike lanes all over the city.
For those flying into the city, the METRO Blue Line is a dependable, low-cost light rail system that can get you from the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport straight to the conference hotel. Tickets are sold at ticket machines at the rail stations.
Fund Your Attendance
VRA offers several opportunities to support attendance at our annual conference via Travel Awards. First-time attendees, new members, students, international members, isolated professionals, those from underrepresented and underserved communities, and those actively participating in the conference programming are especially encouraged to apply. Applications for Travel Awards are being accepted through July 8, 2024.
VRA Refund Policy
Planning and arrangements for facilities, catering, and other program elements are based in part on registration numbers. Unanticipated circumstances may occasionally require registrants to cancel their registrations and request a refund. We ask that you do this as a last resort.
Refunds of event registration fees requested by registrants will be made on request through the start of the program; however, an administrative cancellation fee of $50 will be charged. Please note that in most cases refund requests will not be accepted after a program has concluded.
If a conference, workshop, tour, or other program is canceled by the Association, all registration fees will be refunded.
Accessibility
We want to make choices that make VRA 2024 as accessible and welcoming as possible.
Every session has a moderator who ensures people use the microphone for their questions and presentations. Certain events, like the Keynote, have live captions. General sessions and the Keynote are live-streamed.
Most importantly, we want to hear from you about what you need! Please reach out to initiatives@vraweb.org to make arrangements for individualized accessibility concerns like dietary restrictions, seating arrangements, and other conference-specific needs. If you need something addressed during the conference, please contact initiatives@vraweb.org, or any member of the VRA Executive Board.
The conference hotel, Embassy Suites Minneapolis Downtown, has their accessibility features outlined on their website. If you need an accessible room, please let the hotel know that directly when you book your room.
VRA 2024 Minneapolis Conference Planning Team
Maria Nuccilli, Sr. Director for Events & Initiatives | Wayne State University
Molly Schoen, Jr. Director for Events & Initiatives | Fashion Institute of Technology
Nadine McAllister, Officer & Conference Experience Liaison | Brown University
Emily Smith, Public Relations & Communications Officer | Oakland Museum of California
Meghan Rubenstein, Technology Advisor | Colorado College
Otto Luna, Co-Chair, Education Committee | University of New Hampshire
Amy McKenna, Co-Chair, Education Committee | Williams College
Ann McShane, Conference Experience Planning Group | Emory University
Margaret McKee, Conference Experience Planning Group | The Menil Collection
Allan Kohl, Conference Experience Planning Group | Minneapolis College of Art and Design