Visitor Studies Association Annual Conference
At the 2023 the Visitor Studies Association virtual conference, new and returning attendees will need to confront exclusionary practices and discuss ways to broaden the field by examining evaluative insights from staff and volunteers not traditionally included in evaluation. By acknowledging and welcoming the experience, skill, and knowledge that all staff and individuals provide, attendees can gain rich and meaningful insights into their visitors and surrounding communities. In doing so, they can guide their organizations and leadership to best understand and benefit broader communities, not just those seen as visitors. This requires examining work and asking difficult questions such as:
- How can attendees benefit from diverse perspectives, both in their organizations and communities at large?
- Who can collect data, and what is considered good data?
- What counts as evidence, and from whom?
- How can the field broaden to support more meaningful community engagement?
This year’s conference will require challenging conversations, elevating and welcoming new and emerging perspectives, as well as introspection in addressing these gaps in amplifying diverse voices.