Conference FAQs
When will the 2025 conference be held?
The Affiliations Virtual Conference will be September 15-17, 2025.
How are sessions and workshops for the virtual conference developed and planned?
When planning a virtual conference, Affiliate and Smithsonian colleagues are typically invited to submit session proposals. In addition to submitted proposals, Affiliations staff reviews all topic suggestions made by Affiliates through conversations with their National Outreach Managers and past conference evaluation forms to make sure a robust and informative conference is developed.
May I attend if I am not currently a staff member at an Affiliate organization?
No. Smithsonian Affiliations conference opportunities are for current Affiliates and Smithsonian staff only. If you are interested in becoming an Affiliate, please visit our Applying for Affiliation pages. If you have an application in progress and would like to attend the Conference, please contact us.
What is included in registration cost?
Typically, the conference registration fee entitles you to full access to the entire conference, including special sessions, general sessions, and any special events (pre-registration for special events may be required). Note some meetings may be exclusive to Affiliate and Smithsonian leadership and/or by invite only.
What is the registration refund policy?
Cancellation requests or attendee substitutions are generally accepted until 2 weeks before the event begins. No refunds will be granted after that time. All requests must be made in writing via email to affiliates@si.edu.
What sort of accessible accommodations are provided?
If you have questions about the accessibility of sessions or need to request additional accommodations, please contact affiliates@si.edu. Two weeks advance notice is appreciated for requesting additional accommodations.
Have more questions? The Smithsonian Affiliations staff is happy to answer your questions, hear your concerns, and brainstorm with you about the National Conference. Contact us!
