PRE-CON
AFTACON Pre-CON will be held on June 11, 2025. These four topic–specific, day–long tracks have been designed to provide participants with in-depth knowledge and time to discuss with peers and experts. These tracks differ depending on the topic area; please review the descriptions below for more details. Pre-CON is an additional day of programming and is an added registration choice.
Join the Art in the Public Realm Pre-CON track to dive into how public art enriches the shared spaces where people gather, making them not only more vibrant but also more meaningful. The day will begin with a panel discission in the Memorial Hall Theater on broadening the definition of public art to push past visual adornment and is of vital importance in how we interact with and understand the world around us. After lunch, participants will be transported to Walnut Hills to learn from ArtWorks about how they have intentionally utilized art in the public realm to revitalize not just a physical space but also as a tool for wayfinding, arts programming and community development.
SCHEDULE
9:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Welcome and Panel Discussion in Memorial Hall Theater
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM: Lunch
12:45 PM – 1:30 PM: Transportation to ArtWorks in Walnut Hills
1:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Programming by ArtWorks
Welcome and performance in ArtPark and Roberto Lugo sculpture
Three experiences:
Walking Mural Tours of Walnut Hills. This will visit nearby community murals designed by BIPOC artists and employed youth. Includes innovations such as cities first Augmented Reality Mural (interactive) and a living wall mural with plants integrated into composition.
Case study presentation inside new ArtWorks Creative Campus inside gallery.
Presentation on tangible creative placemaking and building of park, public art as important wayfinding element, arts programming and events to maintain vital arts space at 5 Points park behind ArtWorks Creative Campus.
5:00 PM: Transportation back to Convention hotel
OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES
- Participants will understand the transformative power art in the public realm has that extends far beyond mere aesthetic enjoyment.
- Participants will hear from local, regional and national experts on how art in the public realm weaves itself into the fabric of daily life, influencing and reflecting the cultural, social, and emotional landscape of communities and how it serves as a catalyst for dialogue, encourages community engagement, and fosters a sense of identity and belonging.
- Participants will dive deep into Cincinnati specific example of how integrating art into public spaces, ArtWorks creates environments that inspire, provoke thought, and invite diverse perspectives, ultimately enhancing the collective experience and well-being of society.
Join the Americans for the Arts Government Affairs Department along with the Arts Action Fund for a day of discussion, contemplation and imagining the future of arts and cultural policies in America at the federal, state and local levels during the Pre-CON Assembly on Arts and Culture Policy track. Learn about policies in four different broad categories, what policies might already exist in these areas and then discuss and debate whether these policies should be replicated more broadly in the next 3-5 years. Help guide future federal arts and cultural policies discussion along with taking ideas back home to advocate to your own elected officials at the local or state level.
SCHEDULE
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Set up and Opening Remarks
9:30 AM -12:00 PM: A discussion on Education, Creativity and Innovation & Social Cohesion Policies
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch
1:30 PM – 4:00 PM: A discussion on Jobs and Economy & Livable Communities Policies
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Wrap up and Adjourn
OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES
- Participants/advocates have new policy ideas to advocate on at their own levels of government.
- Participants/advocates thought processes might be challenged as to what the best arts and cultural policies should be in the next 3-5 years.
- Will serve as a guide for Americans for the Arts and the Arts Action Fund federal government affairs team on future policy issues to explore and advocate upon.
- Provide participants/advocates with tools to teach others to become involved with arts and culture advocacy efforts.
Immerse yourself in a transformative day dedicated to the intersection of arts and health, where you’ll gain fresh insights, practical strategies, and inspiration to drive meaningful change. Jumping right in with a keynote address on the latest research advancements in the field, attendees will explore how these findings can empower advocates and influence policy. Case making will be enhanced by the Arts Impact Explorer. This session offers an opportunity to exchange ideas with peers and experts, sparking new approaches and collaborations over tabletop discussions. The afternoon will feature a hands-on exercise where you’ll collaborate with fellow participants to develop actionable strategies for arts & health programming and policy.
SCHEDULE
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Welcome and Opening Remarks
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM: Keynote Address: Research Advancements in Arts & Health: Helping Advocates Make the Case
10:45 AM – 12:45 PM: Tabletop discussion
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM: Lunch
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM: Experiencing the Power of Arts & Health
2:45 PM – 4:45 PM: Building Arts and Health Programs: Strategies and Best Practices
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM: Close
OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES
- Participants will have more tools for making the case for arts & health programming, policy and practice in their communities.
- Participants will learn about new arts & health opportunities as well as learn more deeply about some they already know.
- Participants will develop strategies for integrating arts into health in their organization and/or communities.
Join the Community Engagement Pre-CON track as we explore the evolution of the digital workbook, created as part of a series by Americans for the Arts, designed to aid local and statewide arts and culture service agencies in identifying, connecting with, and sustaining relationships with arts and culture organizations from the global majority within their communities. The day will kick off with resource activations, inviting participants to engage in “deep dives” and lively discussions. After lunch, we will head out to a local community space to explore how arts and culture hubs serve as vital centers for community building and support in unique ways.
SCHEDULE
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Alignment and Context
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Discussions and Activations: Maintaining and Strengthening Committed Community Connections
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM: Transportation to the Community Site
2:15 PM – 5:00 PM: Community Engagement Programming
5:00 PM: Transportation back to Convention Hotel
OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES
- Participants will gain insights into the importance of building and nurturing relationships with empathy and understanding.
- Participants will learn how to set actionable and effective goals to sustain and strengthen community connections.
- Participants will engage with perspectives from experienced practitioners at local, regional, and national levels and investigate a toolkit of strategies for community engagement.
- Participants will have the opportunity to explore a community hub in Cincinnati, delving into specific initiatives and the realities of community engagement.