Conference Opportunites: Ignite Session
CALL FOR PRESENTERS: IGNITES
IGNITE TIMELINE:
June 1, 2026: Ignite Proposals Due
June 15, 2026: Acceptance Notifications
September 7, 2026: Accepted Ignite Materials Due
September 23, 2026: Ignites Presented Wednesday Afternoon at the Conference
NCAA invites its members to apply to present an Ignite. This 90-minute session will feature a succession of lightning presentations responding to the following prompt:
We are seeking stories, practical and innovative approaches related to the theme of this year’s conference, SHIFTING GROUNDS. The ground beneath arts administration is always moving , shaped by evolving institutional priorities, shifting cultural landscapes, and the growing demands of access and equity in higher education. This year’s conference explores themes of sustainable innovation, access, and community engagement— a framework for reimagining not just how we administer the arts, but how we collectively shape their future. We are seeking proposals that reflect on the shifting grounds of arts administration and imagine how we can thrive collectively in the evolving landscape of higher education and the arts. How are we resilient? How do, and can we build resilient and sustainable futures for our institutions and communities? What stories and/or examples do you have related to this theme of SHIFTING GROUNDS?
PRESENTER GUIDELINES: Interested members should submit a proposed Ignite topic and title, a brief bio and head shot by June 1, 2026, to: Elissa Armstrong (ecarmstrong@vcu.edu), O. Gustavo Plascencia (oplascen@mdc.edu), Lynn Tomaszewski (ltomaszewski@artstudentsleague.org) and Rachel Debuque (rdebuque@uark.edu)
ACCEPTED IGNITES
Those selected to present will be informed by June 15, 2026, and asked to submit the following items by September 7, 2026:
• Each topic will be a short slideshow presentation, not to exceed 8 minutes in length.
• Visuals will consist of approximately 20 images, timed for approximately 25 seconds per image.
• Each presentation will ideally introduce a "problem statement or story" and/or provide a “solution” in the form of an insight(s), tool(s), new idea(s), or interesting perspective(s).
• Presentations are due approximately two weeks before the session and will be loaded into a single, continuous presentation.
SUBMITTING FINAL MATERIALS
• Please email PowerPoint presentation by the end of business on September 7, 2026. This will allow us time to import and troubleshoot any technical problems.
• We typically have four-six presenters for a 90-minute session. We are giving each person a maximum of 8 minutes if you choose to use it.
This means, with 20 images, you can set the time per slide to 25 seconds.
• Please, either set the timing of the slides as you prefer, not to exceed 8 minutes, or we will set the timing not to exceed 8 minutes!
DATE, TIME, LOCATION, FORMAT
• Wednesday Afternoon, September 23, 2026, Time and Location TBD
• Presenters will be introduced one at a time, each before her/his presentation.
• After every third presentation, the floor will be opened to Q & A.
REFERENCE
We’re sure you will create a smart and engaging way to present your fabulous topics. For reference, here is a link to various Ignite presentations: