Committees
SERVICES TO ARTISTS COMMITTEE
Description
The Services to Artists Committee (SAC) was formed by the CAA Board of Directors to seek broader participation by artists and designers in the organization and the Annual Conference. SAC identifies and addresses concerns facing artists and designers; creates and implements programs and events at the conference and beyond; explores ways to encourage greater participation and leadership in CAA; and identifies ways to establish closer ties with other arts professionals and institutions.
ARTspace
Initiated in 2001 at the 89th Annual Conference in Chicago, ARTspace has grown into one of the most vital and exciting aspects of the yearly meeting. A conference-within-the-conference, ARTspace presents programming designed by artists for artists and is free and open to the public. ARTspace promotes dialogue about visual-arts practice and its relation to critical discourse. It also provides professional-development seminars and roundtables as well as opportunities for the creative exchange of ideas.
ARTspace offers an informal, dynamic setting with morning coffee hours, sessions and panels, and other social events. Past presentations have covered artists’ residencies, health and safety issues, and artists’ materials. Other diverse, timely panels have addressed arts funding, politics and art, censorship, and criticism.
It currently holds a wide range of conference and year-round programming for artists — including panels and roundtable discussions, podcasts, workshops, professional development sessions, Graduate screenings, ARTexchange, and the annual Distinguished Artist Interviews.
Distinguished Artist Interviews
Each year, the Services to Artists Committee selects the two artists for the Distinguished Artist interviews, one of the most attended events of the conference. The DA interviews renowned artists, usually those with long-standing connections to the host city, and are invited to discuss their work publicly with a respected colleague chosen by the artists.
Prior to the conference, each SAC member has the opportunity to nominate one distinguished artist. This is an artist of national or international acclaim, someone with a history of ‘distinguished’ and notable exhibitions, awards, and recognition. Through the diversity and makeup of the committee itself, our goal is to create a list of artists with diverse backgrounds, styles, and themes.
Using a democratic process, the committee narrows down the selections to two distinguished artists of international acclaim that have a history of notable exhibitions, awards, and recognition to be interviewed at CAA’s Annual Conference.
The Distinguished Artist Interviews are some of the most anticipated and highly attended events. With over 50 interviews to date, the event has a legacy of showcasing important contemporary artists, including Yoko Ono, Catherine Opie, and Faith Ringgold.
ARTexchange
Originally formatted as a pop-up exhibition and meet-up event for artists and curators, ARTexchange provides an opportunity for artists to share their work and build affinities with other artists, historians, curators, and cultural producers.
Graduate Screenings
Each year SAC invites current graduate students to submit video work for consideration in the Graduate Screenings: Film/Video, Animations, & New Genres panel at CAA’s Annual Conference.
Through this screening and exhibition initiative, SAC aims to give the next generation of artists and practitioners an opportunity to display their work. Our annual Graduate Screenings celebrate the hard work of graduate students across the nation and world, while exposing their artworks to a broad audience.
Committee Members 2023–2024
Jevonne Peters, Co-chair, Western University (2025)
Christina Kemp, Co-chair, Artist (2024)
Hannah Barnes, University of Southern Maine (2024)
Cecile Chong, Independent Artist (2026)
Emily Crum, George Washington University (2026)
Marlo Jessica De Lara, AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts (2025)
Karen Gergely, Graceland University (2025)
Jen Hintz Eggers, Independent Artist (2026)
Katerina Lanfranco, Parsons School of Design, The New School (2026)
Elyse Longair, Queen’s University (2026)
Meredith Lynn, Florida State University (2026)
Victoria McCraven, CAA Board Liaison, Ex Officio
Alyce McQueen, Chicago State University (2025)
Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz, School of Visual Arts & Design, University of Central Florida, CAA Board Liaison, Ex Officio
Toberon Waxman, Trans Collection, University of Manitoba (2024)
Contact committee chairs: servicestoartists@gmail.com.