For Immediate Release
June 17, 2021
Contact Information
The Association of African American Museums
202-633-2869
communications@blackmuseums.org
The Association of African American Museums Announces Mr. Robert F. Smith as 43rd Annual Conference Keynote Speaker
The Association of African American Museums (AAAM) will hold its second virtual conference. The three-day online event will be held August 4th through 6th and will feature a keynote conversation entitled, Why Black Museums Matter. Strengthening Our Institutions, Communities and Museums, by Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners and Emmy Award winning journalist Jacque Reid. In 2020, Smith was named as one of the TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World and has been recognized by Forbes as one of the 100 Greatest Living Business Minds. Jacque Reid joins the AAAM conference for the second time bringing her superior journalism skills and captivating questions that are sure to leave our audience on the edge of their seats.
“Last year’s successful launch of the first virtual conference proved that despite our distance, we can still learn, grow, and network together virtually. Historically the AAAM conference is a family reunion of sorts for professionals of African and African American focused museums as well as a wide array of cultural institutions. Last year, nearly 600 museum professionals gathered and connected virtually, and we all were safe, protected and healthy. We want to have that same outcome this year,” said Vedet Coleman-Robinson, Executive Director, AAAM.
As one of the most requested options during the 2020 conference, the Virtual Speed Networking session will be on the 2021 line-up. Our goal is to enlighten, engage, and enhance the current slate of museum professionals that are looking to gain advice for their future endeavors.
For details regarding registration, vendor and exhibition opportunities visit, www.blackmuseums.org. The AAAM 2021 conference keynote conversation is in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Robert F. Smith Center for the Digitization and Curation of African American History.
Located in Washington, D.C., AAAM is a non-profit member organization established to support African and African American focused museums nationally and internationally and the professionals who protect, preserve and interpret African and African American art, history, and culture. Established as the single representative and principal voice of the African American museum movement, the Association seeks to strengthen and advocate for institutions and individuals’ interests committed to the preservation of African-derived cultures. AAAM’s services enhance those museums’ ability to serve the needs and interests of persons of African ancestry and those who wish to know more about the art, history, and culture of African-derived cultures.
For more information about the Association of African American Museums, visit www.blackmuseums.org