2015 Museums Conference Keynote Speakers Set

The Museum Association of New York (MANY) has announced the keynote speakers for the 2015 Museums in Action Conference, being held in Corning, NY from Sunday, April 12th to Tuesday, April 14th.

The 2015 conference theme is “Museums Mean Business”. Locally, statewide and across the country, museums help drive the economy. The scope of their impact is varied and wide, and includes audiences from all ranges of income and education. Tourists, local community members and school children are only a few of the groups that frequent museums on a daily basis. Each year nationally, more people visit museums than attend all professional sporting events and theme parks combined! Museums provide jobs, education and community spaces, and are a major attraction for tourism dollars.

The opening keynote will be delivered on Monday, April 13, at 12:30 pm by Gavin Landry, Executive Director of Tourism, Empire State Development. Landry joined Empire State Development as the Executive Director of Tourism in March of 2013. As Executive Director, he leads the iconic I LOVE NEW YORK marketing campaign, develops and implements new tourism initiatives, and works with the New York State Tourism Advisory Council, which provides input and advice regarding the state’s tourism efforts.

The closing keynote will be delivered on Tuesday, April 14, 10:45 am by Ford Bell, President & CEO of the American Alliance of Museums. Bell began his tenure as president of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM, previously the American Association of Museums) in June 2007. Ford has made it an organization-wide priority to nurture excellence in the field through the establishment and promotion of standards, ethics and best practices. He led the re-branding of AAM, beginning with the development of a new strategic plan and culminating in the launch of the American Alliance of Museums in September 2012.

More information about the conference can be found at manyonline.org/events/museums-action-conference. Conference attendees can make reservations for a discounted rate of $115.00 per night at the Radisson Corning Hotel. Attendees can call (607) 962-5000 and mention Museum Association of New York Room Block to receive the group rate.