Thursday, August 5

“AAAM Annual Business Meeting”
9:00 a.m.  – 10:00 a.m.
Westin Convention Center

Make plans to attend the annual business meeting of the Association. Featured during this year’s meeting will be the announcement of the new class of 2010 Board members; current project reports; new initiatives which include the Association’s involvement in the upcoming PBS documentary, “I’ve Known Rivers: The History of the African American People;” and the introduction of the 2011 Annual Conference Planning Committee.

Friday, August 6

“Rough Seas Abound: Issues of Racism and Racial Threats and the African American Museum”
9:00 a.m.  – 10:00 a.m.
Westin Convention Center

Museum professionals and federal and city law enforcement will discuss incidents of racial threats upon museums and the issues of racism for museums and cultural center facilities and staff. This panel will discuss what museums should do in response and how to develop policies and procedures to deal with such issues.

Chair: John W. Franklin, National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC), Smithsonian

Panelists: Lonnie Bunch, Director NMAAHC; Dr. John Fleming, Director, International African American Museum; Kathe Hambrick-Jackson, River Road African American Museum; Maurita Bryant, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police; Brad Orsini, FBI Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh has one of the most impressive rosters of jazz artists of any city in the world and count among the most influential in the history of jazz. Learn about the importance of Pittsburgh jazz artists from Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines, Mary Lou Williams, Billy Strayhorn, Erroll Garner, Roy Eldridge, Billy Eckstine, George Benson, Stanley Turrentine, Paul Chambers, Dakota Staton, Ahmad Jamal, Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke, Grover Mitchell, Ray Brown and many more.

Chair: Gregory Carroll, American Jazz Museum

Panelists: Dr. Nelson Harrison, Jazz Musician; Kevin Amos, Jazz Broadcaster; and Marty Ashby, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild Jazz Program.

Saturday, August 7

“FORUM: Earth, Wind, Fire – and Snow: Disaster Preparedness”
8:45 a.m.  – 10:15 a.m.
(This session has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience.)

This timely forum with hip-hop educators and museum professionals will examine how history museums can sustain youth audiences, tell relevant stories, give voice to the unheard and build communities by incorporating hip-hop educational curriculums and programs for all exhibitions.