Strengthening Arts-Led Leadership and Partnerships in AI: A National Summit

Agenda

“Know before you go” message will go to all registrants 9/23

Download Schedule

September 24th – Pre-Summit AWS Generative AI Immersion Day  

You are invited to join us for an optional pre-summit AWS Immersion Day on Generative AI from 9 AM to 1 PM on September 24th. In this Immersion Day you’ll learn about core generative AI and prompt engineering concepts, get hands-on experience with Amazon Bedrock, AWS’s cloud service for building generative AI applications and agents, and various foundation models such as Amazon Nova Foundation Models, Anthropic Claude, StabilityAI  Stable Diffusion, and more.

Space in the immersion day is limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis to attendees from education institutions and the arts communities.

Schedule

Registration Open from 8-10AM

8:00-9:00am: Coffe, Snacks and Networking

9:00 – 10:00 AM:  Unleashing Creativity: Art of the Possible using GenAI

• Tom Yemington, Senior Specialist, Generative AI Models, AWS

10:00 – 11:00 AM: Adobe’s Journey to GenAI and its Impact on the Creator

• Jim Babbage, Senior Solutions Consultant, Adobe
• Mohsin Sheikh, Technical Account Manager, AWS

11:00 – 11:30 AM: Lunch & Networking

11:30AM – 1:00 PM: Hands-on Workshop: Exploring Amazon Nova Models (Canvas and Reels)

• Ankit Battawar, Senior Solutions Architect, AWS

September 25th-26th – National Summit

Summit Day 1: Framing the Challenge
Thursday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Registration Open from 8-10AM

8:00-9:00AM: Coffee, Snacks and Networking

9:00-9:30AM Welcome & Opening Remarks

• Ben Knapp, Dean of the College of Arts, Media, & Design, Northeastern University
• Maryrose Flanigan, Executive Director at the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru)
• Kimberley Williams, US Education and State/Local Government Strategy Leader, AWS

9:30-10:00AM: Centering the Arts in the Age of AI: Reporting back on Arts, Empathy and AI Summit (2024)

• Daragh Byrne, Yang and Cai Family Associate Teaching Professor, Carnegie Mellon University
• Aaron Knochel Associate Professor of Art Education, Penn State

Pop-up Perspective: National Endowment for the Arts and Federal Partnerships

• Sunil Iyengar, Director of Research and Analysis, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

10:00-10:30AM: Arts Alumni Perspectives on AI from SNAAP

• Lee Ann Scotto Adams, Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP)

10:30-11:00AM: Coffee Break & Networking

11:00-12:00 PM: Alumni Spotlight: Experiences in an Expanding Field

• Moderator: Deborah Obalil, President & Executive Director, Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD)
• Tom Retaunauer, RBA Architects
• Tara Youngborg, Artist

12:00-1:00 PM: University Spotlight: From Practice to Profession

• Moderator: Craig Kier, Director, Arts for All, University of Maryland
• Johannes DeYoung, IDeATe, Carnegie-Mellon University
• Amelia Winger-Bearskin, Associate Professor of AI and the Arts and Heidi Boisvert,  Associate Professor and AI & the Arts Coordinator, University of Florida
• Ann McNamara, Professor and Interim Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Hwaryoung Seo, Associate Dean for Research and Creative Works, Texas A&M University
• Tina Tallon, Assistant Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Music Composition, The Ohio State University

1:00-2.00 PM: Lunch and Networking

2:00-3:00 PM Breakout Sessions

3:00-3:15 PM: Coffee Break & Networking

3:15-4:00 PM: Breakout Sessions Continued

4:00-4:15PM Coffee Break & Networking

4:15 – 5:00 PM: Symposium Day 1 Clearing House Discussion: Reflection and Review

Summit Day 2: Building Solutions
Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Registration Open from 8-10AM

8:00-9:00AM: Coffee, snacks and netowrking

9:00-9:15 AM: Recap & Agenda Setting

9:15 -10:30 AM: Multi-Sector Perspectives

• Moderator: Maryrose Flanigan, Executive Director at the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru)
• Jillian Arnold, President, IATSE Local 695
• Elizabeth Newbury, Senior Fellow, SeedAI

10:30-10:45 AM: Coffee Break & Networking

10:45 AM-12:00 PM Industry Partnership Panel

• Moderator: Ben Knapp, Dean of the College of Arts, Media, & Design, Northeastern University
• Jim Babbage, Senior Jillian Arnold, President, IATSE Local 695
• Jillian Arnold, President, IATSE Local 695
• Elizabeth Newbury, Senior Fellow, SeedAI

12:00-1:00 PM: Lunch & Networking

1:00-2:45PM: Breakout Groups

2:45-3:00PM: Coffee Break & Networking

3:00-3:45 PM: Group Report Outs & Action Planning

3:45-4:00 PM: Next Steps & Commitments

Travel, Lodging, and Logistics

GETTING TO THE SUMMIT

The Washington, DC metropolitan area, known colloquially as “the DMV” (for District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia), is easily accessible by air, train, and car.

• Air
  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) (5-minute cab ride from the Summit site!!)
  • Dulles International Airport (IAD)
  • Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI). 
• Train
  • Amtrak Washington Union Station (Amtrak and Metro)
  • Virginia Rail Express (VRE)
  • Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC)
• Car
  • Interstates highways I-95, I-66, I-270, and I-495 (the infamous “Beltway” that encircles Washington, DC). 

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority runs comprehensive subway (the Metro) and bus (Metrobus) services in the region. Arlington County supplements Metrobus routes with Arlington Transit (ART) buses.

Aurora (WAS16) is conveniently located one block from the Crystal City Metro Station (Yellow Line), one block from the VRE Crystal City station, as well near multiple Metrobus and ART stops. Most of the DMV is easily accessible via public transportation. 

LODGING

Summit attendees are responsible for booking their own accommodation. There is no reserved block of hotel rooms.

There are nine hotels within a 10-minute walk of Aurora (WAS16), and many other hotels are available in the region.

PARKING

Visitors to Aurora (WAS16) may park in the parking garage beneath the building.The garage can be entered off either 18th St or Crystal Drive.

DINING

Coffee breaks and lunch will be provided during the Summit. Vegetarian/vegan options will be available.  

For evening dining, there are many restaurants near the venue and neighborhood hotels along Crystal City Drive, 18th Street South, and 15th Street South.

The DMV is renowned for dining experiences; there are more than 25 Michelin-starred restaurants in the area and hundreds of other excellent restaurants. Nearly all of them are a short cab, rideshare, or Metro ride from the venue. Reservations are strongly recommended – and sometimes mandatory – for popular restaurants in the region, especially if dining as a group.

ACCESSIBILITY

Amazon and AWS are committed to accessibility. Aurora (WAS16) is an accessible building, but we do ask that you let the summit organizers know if accommodations are necessary so we can prepare appropriately.

SECURITY and CHECK IN

Aurora (WAS16) is a secure building. Summit attendees will check-in at the Aurora lobby and will be limited to the Executing Briefing Center (13th and 14th floors). Please bring photo identification to the check-in. 

Attendees

Christine Alexander, Lecturer, University of Maryland
Brooke Allen, Founder, Viral Virtue, Inc.
Caroline Anderson, Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati
Deborah Anderson, Owner, Bernice and Geraldine
Jillian Arnold, AI Co-Chair, IATSE / Mission Critical Media
Jim Babbage, Senior Solutions Consultant, Adobe
Yoon Bae, Associate Professor, UNCSA
Ariel Baron-Robbins, Assistant Teaching Professor of Animation, Florida International University
Ankit Battawar, AWS WWPS Education SA – VAR, AWS
Saya Behnam, Artist, Saya Behnam Art
Nesida Hakim Belembaogo, Product Manager, NESIDA HAKIM BELEMBAOGO
Margarita Benitez, Professor, Kent State University
Parantap Bhatt, Assistant Professor, OCAD University
Meryl Bloomrosen, Director, AMA
Lesley-ann Boatright, Sales Rep II, Tech 67, AWS
Paul Brammer, Chief Academic Officer, Virginia Tech
Soul Brown, Former Executive Committee Member, a2ru
Daragh Byrne, Associate Teaching Professor, Carnegie Mellon University
Gary Chinn, Assistant Dean & Director, The Pennsylvania State University
Soohyun Cho, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University
Warren Cobb,  Associate Dean, University of Nevada Las Vegas
Cheryl Ann Colton, Regional Program Director, Alexandria Office of the Arts
Derek Curry, Associate Professor, Northeastern University
Rick Dammers, Dean, Rowan University
Alix Delgado,  Account Manager – HiEd, AWS
Johannes DeYoung,  Associate Professor, Carnegie Mellon University
Anntamu DiRita,  Associate Dean, Texas A&M University
Kate Domico, Assistant Dean, Penn State College of Arts and Architecture
Chris Dorr,  Assistant Professor, MFA Program, Producing, School of Filmmaking, UNC School of the Arts
Jocelyn Dueck, Associate Professor, Carnegie Mellon University
Rachel Dungan,  Director, Academy Health
Mary Early, Founder, Mary Early Art + Advisory
Eric Eason, Professor, UNCSA
Roger Eastman, Director, Immersive Media Design, University of Maryland-College Park
Keyvsan Ebrahimi, TAM, AWS
Maryrose Flanigan, Executive Director, a2ru
David Franusich, Multimedia Designer, Virginia Tech Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology
Chawky Frenn, Professor, George Mason University
Cynthia Fuchs, Program Director, George Mason University
James Garvey, Professor, College for Creative Studies
Adrienne Godwin, Director of Programming, College of Visual and Performing Arts, George Mason University
Jennifer Gradecki, Assistant Professor, Northeastern University
Kim Harrigal,  Mgr, Solutions Architecture, AWS
Michelle Hayford,  Associate Dean & Executive Director, Arts NC State, North Carolina State University
Veronica Hicks,  Assistant professor of Art Education, Virginia Commonwealth University
Yvonne Houy,  Learning Technology Innovation, University of Nevada Las Vegas
Annie Hui-Hsin Hsieh,  Associate Professor of Music, Carnegie Mellon University
Michelle Isabelle-Stark,  Director, Arlington County AED-Cultural Affairs
Sunil Iyengar,  Director, Strategic Comms & Initiatives, National Endowment for the Arts
Brett Johnson, Executive Director, The Delaware Contemporary
Tommy Johnston, AWS Solutions Architect, EDU, AWS
Aditya Johri, Professor, George Mason University
Robin Jordan, Artist, Robin Jordan Art
Craig Kier, Director, Arts for All, Maryland Blended Reality Center
Julian Kilker, Associate Professor of Emerging Technologies, School of Journalism and Media Studies, UNLV
Matt King, Director, Fine Arts Studio, SMFA @ Tufts University
Ben Knapp, Dean, College of Media, Arts, and Design, Northeastern University
Aaron Knochel, Associate Professor of Art Education, The Pennsylvania State University
Peter Kurie, Owner/Principal, Peter Kurie LLC
Kristin Lamoureaux, Director, Hospitality and Tourism Graduate Programs, Virginia Tech
Rachel Levy, Executive Director, Data Science and AI Academy, NC State University
Joe Lin,  Principal TAM, AWS
Marissa Long, Gallery Director & Curator, Art Enables
Jan Oliver Lucks, Filmmaker, SNAAP
Chris Lutz Sr.,  Account Executive, Adobe, Inc.
Eric Lyon, Professor of Practice, Virginia Tech
Suzanne McBride,  Interim Senior Vice President and Provost, Columbia College Chicago
Lisa McNair,  Interim Co-Executive Director, Virginia Tech Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology
Anant Mittal, Solutions Architect, SLG, AWS
Elizabeth Newbury, Senior Fellow, SeedAI
Deborah Obalil, President, AICAD
Sarah O’Connell, Adjunct Professor, UNLV College of Fine Arts
Emily Oilar, Director of Planning and Strategic Projects, The Ohio State University – Wexner Center for the Arts
Ye Sul Park, Instructor, Penn State University
Termeh Rassi, Chief Strategy Officer & Editorial Director, Leonardo
Blair Retnauer, Senior Graphic Designer
Thomas Retnauer, President, RBA Architects
Greg Ritter,  Senior BDM, Higher Ed, AWS
Sarah Robison,  Curator of Teaching, Learning and Interpretation, The Ohio State University – Wexner Center for the Arts
Dina Rosenberg,  Board Member, ConnectJew
Carly Ross, Account Executive, Penn State University
Anna Rulloda, Director, SeedAI
Amy Ruopp, Dean, College for Creative Studies
Amy Sawyers-Williams, Project Manager, Arts NC State
Diane Scott,  Director of Artist Services, Mid-America Arts Alliance
Mary Seidell,  Associate Solutions Architect, AWS
Jinsil Hwaryoung Seo, Professor, Texas A&M University
Stass Shapnin, Associate Teaching Professor, Rutgers University-Camden
Adefoluke Shemsu, Policy Fellow, SeedAI
Lily Siegel, Executive Director, Hamiltonian Artists
Natalie Smith, Director of Digital Strategy, Library of Congress
Koven Smith, Principal (Former Senior Director/Arts), Koven J. Smith Consulting (Formerly Knight Foundation)
Susan Soroko, Director, Creative Economy, Arlington Economic Development
Caleb Spencer,  IT Systems Manager, Virginia Tech
Mark Sullivan,  Creative Director, Michigan State University, MSU Museum, CoLab Studio
Tina Tallon, Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University
Esther Tan, Student, George Washington University
Andrew Taylor, Associate Professor, Fractured Atlas
Luis Vasquez, Assistant Professor, George Mason University
Joseph Vinciguerra, Chair of Dramatic Writing, New York University
Matthew Vollmer, Professor of English, Virginia Tech
Cecelia Walls, Assistant Director, Learning Content & Operations, American Alliance of Museums
Andrew Watson, Coordinator of Visual Arts, Prince William County Public Schools
Amelia Winger, Bearskin Banks Family Chair of AI and the Arts, University of Florida, Digital Worlds Institute
Tom Yemington, GenAI 3P Model Provider GTM, AWS
Tara Youngborg, Manager, University of Maryland
Victor Zappi, Assistant Professor, Northeastern University