June 27, 2019 | Susan Boxer Kappel, MA, ATR-BC, LCAT, CGP, Conference Chair
Now that summer is officially here if you have not already completed your registration we invite you to do so now! Plan to join us for the American Art Therapy Association’s 50th Annual Conference to be held October 30 to November 3, 2019 in Kansas City, MO. Advanced registration is now open. You can Register Online or call the National Office at (888) 290-0878 or (703) 548-5860 to register by phone.
Already Registered? It goes without saying that most people attend the AATA conferences to learn new things and expand their knowledge. With 230 educational sessions on the program this year that’s an easy item to check off your list. People also attend the AATA conference to network and meet art therapists. Last but not least, making art and expressing creativity are other reasons attendees keep coming back to the AATA conferences year after year.
Here are some more ways to expand and enrich your conference experience in Kansas City this year:
Expand your continuing education opportunities by adding an All-day Advanced Practice Course on Wednesday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (7 hours of continuing education) or a Half-day Advance Practice Course on Sunday from 8:00 to 11:00 am (3 hours of continuing education). These experiential sessions provide a wealth of knowledge and information using hands-on art directives. Explore the sessions that are still available. Workshops are always popular and there are still some sessions available. These “experiential” offerings, are held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and each workshop provides 1.5 hours of continuing education. But hurry, many are full—and others are filling up fast! Register online or call the AATA National Office to register by phone at (888) 290-0878 or (703) 548-5860.
Sign up for the Master Class, Art Therapy with Refugee and Migrant Populations on Saturday from 2:30 to 4:00 pm, featuring Essam Daod, Heidi Bardot, MA, ATR-BC, LCPAT, Jennifer Beasley, DAT, MA, ATR-BC, Holly Feen-Calligan, PhD, ATR-BC, and moderated by Lynn Kapitan, PhD, ATR-BC, HLM. This session will follow our featured keynote session on Saturday.
Plan to attend a Special 50th Anniversary Celebration Event on Thursday: An Evening with Rising Stars and Legacy Members. Walk the red carpet, take a photo with an art therapy legend, and wear something “gold” to celebrate AATA’s 50th! All conference attendees are invited to this free event. We’ll start with a social mixer followed by our rising stars receiving their scholarships, awards, and honors. After the award presentations you’ll participate in a special session called Conversations with Legacy Members: AATA Then, Now and in the Future. This session will be moderated by Deborah Good, PhD, ATR-BC, ATCS, LPAT, LPCC and features Judy Rubin, PhD, ATR-BC, HLM, Charles Anderson, ATR-BC, Linda Gantt, PhD, ATR-BC, HLM, and Laurie Wilson, PhD, ATR-BC, HLM. This will truly be a special evening!
Submit an original short film for the Art Therapy Film Festival. Accepted films will be viewed at the conference on Thursday from 2:45 to 4:15 pm. Filmmakers are invited to conceive, design, and produce an original short film that examines who and what we are as art therapists. Review the submission form for additional information. Submissions are due August 1.
Submit your artwork (digitally) for the Members’ Digital Art Exhibition. Before each plenary session this beautiful and inspirational exhibit is shown. Submissions are due October 1, and we encourage AATA Chapters to create art together and submit as well! Download the submission form to learn more.
The International Shared Interest Group Meeting will be held on Wednesday starting at 5:00 pm. This special session is for those living and working in other countries, international students in the US, or anyone interested in international art therapy. Come network with art therapists from around the world to discover what is happening in various regions and inform others of your interests and skills. Click here for more information.
If this is your first AATA Conference, plan to join the Newcomer’s Session on Wednesday at 6:30 pm. This session will provide an informative overview of the conference and you’ll learn tips from experienced conference leaders that will help enrich your conference experience and make it successful.
The President’s Opening Reception will be on Wednesday at 7:30 pm. This event features a cash bar and appetizers, and is a great way to say hello to all of your friends and meet new acquaintances. If you purchased a Full Conference Registration Package, a ticket to this event is included. If you purchased an Economy or Daily Package you can add this ticket a-la-carte.
Participate in the Friday Evening Night on the Town! This event will feature a Photo Scavenger Hunt, which will give attendees the opportunity to visit some of the local galleries and establishments on a walking tour near the hotel. There will also be some prizes for the Scavenger Hunt winners! The event will conclude with our very own Bruce Moon, entertaining us with his music!
All are invited on Saturday at 5:30 pm to remember the lives and work of art therapists who have passed since our last conference at the annual Memorial Ceremony. If you have information to be included at this event, please email conferenceinfo@arttherapy.org.
Celebrate at the After Party! Come join your friends and colleagues at the closing event on Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00 pm, where we’ll dance the night away and enjoy a cash bar and light refreshments. The Theme for the After Party is the “Roaring 20’s” so come dressed in your flapper gear and get ready to party! If you purchased a Full Conference Registration Package, a ticket to this event is included. If you purchased an Economy or Daily Package you can add this ticket a-la-carte. Visit online registration, or call the AATA Office at (888) 290-0878 or (703) 548-5860 to register over the phone.
For more information about the conference, visit the website, download the detailed conference brochure, or review the online “searchable” program.
