Conference 2023

About the Conference

The conference theme was Ways of Seeing. As professionals who may be practicing artists, educators, or museum professionals, and as people with different cultural backgrounds and life experiences, we all have different perspectives when it comes to interpreting visual information. This conference examined those perspectives and asked what we might learn from each other.

This conference was a hybrid conference featuring an online conference day Monday, October 2nd with in-person conference events happening Thursday, October 5th through Sunday, October 8th. Presentations presented during the virtual part of the conference occurred according to the Central Time Zone.

Conference Schedule

• Monday, October 2: Online conference
• Thursday, October 5: Conference opening with registration, welcome reception on campus, and potential for museum tours at the Krannert Art Museum and Spurlock Museum of World Cultures.
• Friday, October 6: Full conference day, keynote speaker
• Saturday, October 7: Full conference day, community Pecha Kucha event with closing reception.
• Sunday, October 8: IVLA Board Meeting, optional excursions and activities at the UI Arboretum, Crystal Lake Park, Anita Purves Nature Center, and Wandell Sculpture Garden at Meadowbrook Park. 

Call for Proposals

The call for proposals is now closed. Proposals were due April 17, 2023. 

Virtual Session Information

Virtual presentations were offered for those unable to travel to Champaign and will prioritize presentations from our international members and presenters who are unable to travel. Sessions will include formats such as paper presentations (25 min), panel discussions (55 minutes), and workshops (2 hours).

In-person Session Information

Sessions will include formats such as poster sessions, paper presentations (25 min), panel discussions (55 minutes), campfire (55 minutes) and workshops (2 hours).

Conference Registration

Conference registration for in-person includes a welcome reception on Thursday evening, lunch on Friday and Saturday, and the closing reception on Saturday night. There will be a separate cost for online only participation, though the virtual conference will be included in the registration for in-person attendees.

Venue and Travel Information

About the Venue

Champaign-Urbana is home to a vibrant arts community as well as the flagship institution for the University of Illinois system. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I) is one of the top public universities in the county, recognized for its library system, innovation, research, and public engagement. Contributing departments and organizations include the School of Information Science, the Champaign Urbana Design Organization, the Krannert Museum, the Krannert Center for Performing Arts, the University Library, the Siebel Center for Design (SCD), the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, 40 North, the Urbana Arts and Culture Program, the Urbana Museum of Photography, and more. There are numerous restaurants across campus that are appropriate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including within the SCD. Attendees may also choose to dine in downtown Champaign or Urbana, which is easily reached from campus.

Getting to the Conference

The nearest airport in Champaign-Urbana is Willard Airport, located south of campus in Savoy. It is a short and inexpensive taxi ride to campus (approximately $20), but the airport is also serviced by public transit that takes visitors to campus. Virtually anywhere in Champaign-Urbana is accessible via public transportation. International airports are all approximately a two-hour drive from Champaign, located in Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. There are buses serving all those locations, though O’Hare airport in Chicago has the most robust schedule to get to Champaign. Parking is available on campus, and is typically metered. Participants may use public transportation or walk around campus if that is more convenient.

Hotel Information and Block Rates

The official hotel for the conference will be the Illini Union Hotel. In the student union of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, this functional hotel is a 7-minute walk from Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and a 11-minute walk from Spurlock Museum’s ethnography exhibits.

Rooms and suites come with 42-inch flat-screen TVs, minifridges and free Wi-Fi. Some quarters have campus views.

Breakfast vouchers and parking are complimentary. A game room features a bowling alley, arcade games and billiards tables (fee for all). Other amenities include an art gallery and a food court.

The hotel boasts 74 rooms which includes two suites. We will have a block of 44 rooms available for conference attendees. Room rates are: 

Rooms with 1 or 2 Full-size beds are $129 plus tax per night 

Rooms with 2 Queen beds or 1 King bed are $134 plus tax per night

VIP-Suites are $231 plus tax per night

The Group Booking Code is IVLA23. 

Other options include: