October 26-29, 2021   |   St. George, UT   |   Beyond the Building

We are optimistically planning to hold the conference in St. George with some aspects of the conference available for attendees who wish to participate virtually. Plans will be adjusted as needed based on the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finding ways to take our museums into the community is not a new concept for museum professionals, and 2020 thrust each of us into uncharted territory in many unique ways. Faced with the reality of literally closing our doors, museums quickly pivoted to find innovative and clever avenues to ensure that community care remained at the center of our practice. John R. Dichtl, President and CEO of AASLH notes, “hundreds of institutions redirected staff time to digital projects, making collections and tours available to millions of out-of-school kids and stay-at-home workers. Organizations quickly began collecting COVID-19 stories and artifacts.” Additional data clearly demonstrates that “...the worth of museums extends far beyond their building’s walls…(and we proved it when) people needed it most.”

Furthermore, the demand for greater diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion reverberated throughout 2020. While “many institutions have been highlighting issues of race and other inequities for decades, alongside their efforts to record examples of resilience and achievement,” we know that “...museums know how to spark the curiosity of visitors and inspire change.” Museums are integral and integrated into the process of helping our audiences find tools for greater understanding.