It’s almost conference time! Here are a couple of updates on details regarding the Founders’ Fête, the Titian exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the Icebreaker Welcome Party.
The Founders’ Fête is almost full, but there are a few tickets left. If you are interested in attending, please add the event to your conference registration. (The Add a Workshop, Event or Tour! blog post from March 2, 2011 gives details on how to do this: https://vraarlis2011.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/add-a-workshop-event-or-tour/)
Details on transportation to and from the hotel, museum, and Gale Mansion are available on the conference blog. Please see: https://vraarlis2011.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/conference-transportation/
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is located about 0.3 miles (or approximately 2-3 city blocks) from the Gale Mansion and about 1.7 miles from the hotel. If you choose to walk from the Gale Mansion to the MIA, you are encouraged to walk in pairs or small groups around the park. Enter the museum off of 3rd Avenue South.
Founders’ Fête attendees get free Member-For-A-Day passes for the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. This pass offers all the benefits of being a member for the day, including a discount in the museum shop and free admittance to the Titian and the Golden Age of Venetian Painting exhibit on Thursday. Founders’ Fête attendees are encouraged to reserve a time to view the Titian exhibit by contacting the museum (see number below).
All other conference attendees will find a free pass to the Titian exhibit in their registration packet. Due to the popularity of the exhibit and the need of the museum to control the number of visitors in the exhibit space, entrance times are allocated. It is strongly encouraged that you call the MIA ahead of when you would like to attend the exhibit and reserve a spot for the time you would like to view the exhibit. The number to call to reserve tickets is: 612-870-6323 or 888-642-2787. Please call 612-870-6323 for same-day reservations, as space may be limited.
Additional Icebreaker Welcome Party details:
Schedule change – due to an unforeseen development, Olga Viso, Director of the Walker Arts Center will be unable to welcome attendees to the event.
All attendees are asked to wear their conference badge to the Icebreaker Welcome Party.
Free buses will provide attendees transportation from the hotel to the Walker Art Center and back to the hotel. The first buses will arrive at the hotel and loading will begin at 6:35 p.m. Buses will begin the first round-trip to the Walker Art Center at 6:45 p.m., arriving at the Walker around 7:00 p.m. Latecomers buses will leave the hotel for the Walker at 7:30, 7:45, and 8:00 p.m.
Early return buses (from the Walker to the hotel) will leave at 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. At approximately 9:30 p.m. all buses will return guests to the hotel, and continue making round trips until all guests have been safely returned. The last return trip will be approximately 10:00 pm.
Everyone should enter the museum through the Vineland Place entrance (the buses will drop attendees off at this entrance). Greeters will meet attendees at this door and will be directing people to the location of the party, gift shop, and bar.
There will be a coat check available at the Walker, however attendees are encouraged to leave their coats at the hotel if possible (buses will be heated).
All attendees will receive the 10% member discount at the Walker Shop. The Shop will be open from 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Christy Dent, Event Committee PR
cldent@stthomas.edu
VRA + ARLIS/NA 2nd Joint Conference Blog 