FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It looks like two events are happening in Prince George, what is going on?

In 2024, the BCMA Conference will feature two parallel tracks: the annual sector gathering and the brand-new innovation lab. 

• The innovation lab aims to serve as a collaborative space to develop innovative ideas and practices and redefine how museums, arts, and cultural institutions approach sustainability. This dynamic workshop model will bring together a diverse group of about 50 arts and culture workers from across the province to engage, connect, play, experiment, create, prototype, and present their solutions for a more sustainable cultural sector.
• The gathering will have a variety of skill-sharing sessions, knowledge exchanges, networking opportunities and keynotes all featuring local arts and culture. It will be open to up to 200 attendees, sponsors, funders, and partners from across BC and beyond.

 
Does the 2024 Conference have a specific theme and title?

While we don’t have an official title for the conference at this time, we are focused on sustainability in culture. We would like to encourage attendees to think about all facets of sustainability while engaging with each other and the presenters.  

Is there a schedule available?

We will regularly update the schedule on our website as we confirm events and locations, please see the schedule page for more details.

• The Innovation Lab will begin on Monday, September 23, ending on Friday, September 27.
• Gathering attendees will join us from Tuesday, September 24, to Friday, September 27. 

There will be meals and sessions on the schedule where the two tracks converge, including the Conference welcome on Tuesday, and the closing of the Conference on Friday. 

When will registration open?

Registration for both Conference events – the Innovation Lab and the Gathering – will open on June 10 for Northern and Central BC.

The annual BCMA Conference is held in different parts of the province and we would like to offer as many BCMA members as possible, especially those from northern regions, an opportunity to attend this event. The first week of registration will be reserved for organizations and individuals from the following regions: Cariboo, Nechako, North Coast, Northeast.

All other BCMA members will be able to register starting on June 15, with general registration from June 24 until sold out.

How do I apply for the Innovation Lab? Can I not just register?

Due to the dynamic nature of this week-long workshop attendance for the Innovation Lab is limited to 50 people. We want to make sure to have representation from different parts of the province, different types of organizations and different experience levels, and also get a sense of which aspects of sustainability applicants are most interested in to plan accordingly.

Applications to join the lab will be open throughout June. If there are more applicants than available spots, the BCMA Conference working group will adjudicate applications in early July and inform all participants. We will hold back tickets for the Gathering track for those that have not gotten into the innovation lab so you can still attend the Conference if you wish to.

Please note: For participation in the Innovation Lab, no payment will be accepted until applications are approved. To finalize your application to the Lab in our event portal, you will click “process payment” to submit your application and it will automate a cheque payment process. Do not send any cheque payment until your application is accepted. The BCMA team will be in touch with next steps in July, and you will be able to pay by credit card after your attendance in the lab is confirmed.

What ticket options are available for the Gathering?

In an effort to make this event more accessible, we are offering the following options:

IBPOC, Underemployed, EMP: These tickets are meant for Indigenous people, BPOC, underemployed delegates, and emerging professionals. 

Subsidized Ticket: Subsidized tickets are meant for delegates who will be paying out of pocket to attend the gathering and are not receiving financial support from their organization for the trip. These tickets are booked on an honour system and we ask those who are able to pay the full price to do so.

Standard Ticket: We ask those who are able to pay the full price to do so.

You can find the ticket prices on our registration page.

What if I need to cancel my Lab or Gathering registration?

1. Registration(s) may be canceled for a full refund until August 31, 2024.
2. Registration(s) can be transferred* to another delegate until September 20, 2024.

*Delegates who are unable to attend the gathering or lab may transfer their registration to another individual by modifying their registration in the registration portal. For assistance with transfers, please contact us at bcma@museum.bc.ca. The original registration rate and any additional event/workshop tickets purchased will transfer to the new attendee. Transfer requests will be accepted up until September 20, 2024.

How can I make the registration process easy for myself and my employees?

Keeping your membership information updated is a simple way to ensure you can register with ease. Firstly, ensure you can log into your member portal, and that your membership is active and not nearing expiry. Be sure your profile is updated with accurate information and the appropriate email address. For an institutional member, ensure you have assigned any employee seats to those you might be registering on behalf of. If you are registering multiple people, make sure you have their information, including the spelling of their names, their email addresses, and their accessibility and dietary needs.

Learn more about your membership category and benefits, including employee seats, here.

Login to your member portal here.

I am registering for the Conference but when I completed the registration selecting the member rate, it switched to the standard rate, why?

You can only access the member rate if you have an up-to-date membership and have logged in using the email address you registered for your membership with. If you are seeing the rate change through your registration from the member rate to the standard rate, you have not logged in using your registered email address. Try an alternate email address, or contact us at members@museum.bc.ca to confirm which email address your membership is held with.

Will conference bursaries be offered to support travel costs?

The BCMA has offered bursaries to help members access the 2023 Gathering and looks forward to offering bursaries again in 2024 when possible.

Like past BCMA conferences, the goal of bursaries and subsidies is to provide funding to members and delegates from historically underrepresented groups and those needing additional support to access the event. 

If you are interested in attending either the lab or gathering track of the 2024 Conference but your attendance is dependent on bursaries, approval of your organization for funds, or other financial decisions that are not made at the time of registration, please select “cheque payment” at the payment stage of your registration to ensure you secure your place until you are able to confirm and pay for your registration.

Please visit this page to learn more about bursaries (more information will be available as it is confirmed).

If I can’t travel to Prince George, are there other ways I can participate in or learn from the 2024 Gathering?

Similar to previous BCMA conferences, we are offering digital access to the Gathering so those unable to join us in person can tune in and virtually attend key sessions.

Learn more and register for Digital Access here.

Can you share any details about travel options, accommodation, and the host community?

Information on hotels, travel discounts, and our host community will be available on this page. More information will be added as it is confirmed.

Can you provide more information on the venue and accessibility of the event?

Please note that we are currently working on understanding the accessibility of our venues. We aim to provide you with accurate and helpful information on physical accessibility, way-finding, accommodations for visually and hearing-impaired people, sensory considerations, washrooms etc.

As we confirm details, we will add accessibility notes to help you understand the spaces before attending. Please let us know of any accessibility needs during the registration process by filling out the form provided.

If you have specific concerns and would like to discuss them with us, please email us.

We are asking that attendees not wear perfumes, colognes or scented products to help create a more neutral space for those with scent sensitivities.

Will you implement a code of conduct for the 2024 Conference?

Yes, we are asking all attendees to agree to the code of conduct during the registration process and adhere to it during both the Innovation Lab and the Gathering. To read the full code of conduct for the Conference, please head to this page.

What happens if something cannot go ahead as planned?

In the event of changes to the schedule or format of the gathering (due to illness, wildfires, or other unforeseen circumstances), we will do our best to offer an alternate setup for sessions. This may include remote speakers, smaller panels or rescheduling sessions for a later date.

What meals are included in my event registration?

The schedule outlines which events will offer food and drinks and we kindly ask delegates to support local food businesses for the meals that are not provided.

Evening socials may offer some appetizers and beverages.

Venues for learning sessions and workshops will offer water, tea, and coffee unless stated otherwise.

Please let us know of any dietary needs during the registration process by filling out the form provided.