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Programs » Annual Conference

CAA Annual Conference: Important Information

The since 2023 the Annual Conference has been held with in-person and hybrid sessions, plus, our Book and Trade Fair, and special events. In response to the feedback from conference attendees and participants, CAA continues to improve the Annual Conference experience. For the proposal forms and timeline, see this page. Looking forward to seeing you in 2027.

Updated March 11, 2026.

CONFERENCE FORMAT

  • Most sessions and events, including Convocation, Annual Artist Interviews, Distinguished Scholar Session, and Committee Meetings will be held in person, while a portion of the program will be hybrid.
  • Beginning in October, conference registrants will be able to sign into the schedule to view session and presentation abstracts in the online schedule. Schedule is subject to minor changes.
  • As CAA has done since 2021, we will make conference recordings accessible to registrants for a number of weeks after the conference.
  • Recording permission and extended access period details will be part of the 2026 Participation Agreement which accepted participants will read inside their Speaker's Corner beginning in July.

Types of events held at the conference

  • Sessions, Workshops, Meetings, Receptions, the Book and Trade Fair, and our special events: Convocation, Distinguished Scholar Session, Annual Artist Interviews. The conference also includes select offsite events hosted by CAA’s constituents and sponsors.

Conference Participation Rules

  • CAA is a forum for new work and scholarship. Session and presentation content must be original and may not have been published previously or presented at another scholarly conference. Workshops must serve the needs of CAA’s constituencies.
  • You may submit a proposal before joining, but all accepted session participants must hold an active Individual Membership through the conference dates. Join as a member or bring your account current at this link.
    • New or lapsed members may update or create a CAA account prior to joining; complete all steps before payment to make a proposal before joining.
  • Registration: All session participants must also register for the conference and will receive the participant rate.
  • CAA is a membership organization—joining connects you to the largest community of visual arts professionals. Members are CAA and create the conference content. Participation in the Annual Conference is a benefit of CAA membership.
  • Participation Limits: Each participant may engage in the conference in up to three roles but may serve in any single role only once per conference. Current roles:
    • Session Chair or Workshop Leader
    • Paper/Project Presenter
    • Session Discussant
    • If you have multiple accepted submissions in the same role, you must withdraw all but one.

Sessions and presentations

  • CAA Annual Conference sessions are 90 minutes. Session chairs must plan session time carefully and clearly communicate expectations to all participants.
    • CAA recommends a maximum of two chairs, one optional discussant, and up to four presenters, which typically gives each presenter about 15–18 minutes plus time for introductions and discussion.
    • Chairs should consider the significant preparation and travel commitment participants make when dividing session time.
  • Presenters should expect their chair to request their paper or presentation before the conference. Chairs should communicate with participants multiple times before the conference.
  • Chairs: keep in mind the commitment your participants are making to prepare and travel when dividing the session’s time.
  • Some chairs may structure sessions using very short lightning-round presentations; this format requires clear communication, strong chairing experience, and strict time management. Standard participation rules still apply.
  • Applicants to the CAA-Getty International Program and Getty Alumni Session must submit an Individual Presentation and complete the program-specific questions in the form. Applicants should review the eligibility requirements provided on this page.
  • CAA collects only submission information and abstracts during review, and closer to the conference; PPT files. Images collected inside proposals are used only for the review process. CAA does not collect finished papers.

Participation agreement

  • Session chairs, presenters and workshop leaders must read and sign the conference participation agreement, which can be found in their Speaker’s Corner. This is separate from granting permission for CAA to record your presentation. The agreement is available in your Speaker’s Corner beginning in July. Check for emails from caa@confex.com.
  • Session discussants are not required to sign the participation agreement as they do not give a presentation and their remarks are part of the session Q&A and therefore not recorded. Discussants who wish to share a presentation or be recorded should have their session chair notify CAA as soon as possible via info@collegeart.org.

Conference Recordings

  • Granting permission to record your presentation is optional. After acceptance, session participants may choose in their Speaker’s Corner not to have their presentation recorded and may still fully participate. In this case, only live attendees (in person or via Zoom) will hear the presentation.
  • CAA encourages participants to allow recording which increases access for conference registrants around the world and extends the reach of your work. Recordings are also archived by CAA in accordance with the Participation Agreement.
  • How recordings are used:
    • Recordings are captioned and posted in the Conference Schedule for access by registered attendees.
    • Recordings are managed according to the Participation Agreement, which is updated each cycle and available to accepted participants in Speakers’ Corner beginning in July. Recordings are archived and may be used in future promotion of the Association or the Annual Conference.
    • CAA cannot distribute recording files.

Promotion and marketing

  • Promotion of a commercial product or service is not allowed as part of your session or presentation. However, all participants should promote and market their session or presentation to their personal and professional networks.

Health and Safety

  • CAA and our Annual Conference partners are committed to following the most current safety protocols as they apply to in-person convening up to and during the time of the conference. Please read CAA’s recently updated Code of Conduct at this page. We are tracking the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and local guidance. CAA will share updated health and safety guidelines closer to the conference as needed.

Timeline and History

  • Example of the standard submission cycle:
  • March 15: Call for Proposals period begins; submission forms open.
  • April 25: Deadline for session, workshop, and presentation submissions.
  • May–June: Proposals reviewed by the CAA Council of Readers and then the Annual Conference Committee.
  • Mid-July: Submitters notified of acceptance or rejection.
  • July: Affiliated Society Business Meeting & Reunion or Reception request forms open.
  • Late July: Call for Participation (CFP) opens; chairs of accepted sessions solicit contributors to submit presentation proposals directly to them.
  • Late August: Deadline for CFP submissions.
  • September 16: Deadline for chairs of sessions soliciting contributors to make their decisions, directly notify their accepted presenters, and add to session entry.
  • Early October: Registration opens and conference schedule is announced.
  • December 5: Access accommodation requests for in-person and/or remote participants due to CAA.
  • February: CAA Annual Conference. See upcoming dates at this link.
  • See the history of past CAA Annual Conferences at this link.