CAA News Today

CAA113 Annual Business Meeting
February 14, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. ET
New York Hilton Midtown
 

1. Welcome + Call to Order – Denise Baxter, CAA Board President
   1. Denise Baxter called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. ET. 
   2. The agenda was introduced, with emphasis on brevity to allow time for a special guest presentation on the state of the field following the Annual Business Meeting.
2. Executive Director Report – Meme Omogbai, CAA Executive Director + CEO
   1. Financial Report
      1. CAA’s annual audit was conducted by the firm EisnerAmper for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.
      2. Net assets increased by over $80,000 compared to the prior year.
      3. Operating revenue was $3.4 million, and expenses were approximately the same amount.
      4. An unrealized investment loss was due to market conditions.
      5. CAA continues to operate within budget and maintains fiscal prudence.
      6. Audit reports are publicly available via Guidestar and NYS Charities Bureau.
   2. Membership Update
      1. CAA Individual members totaled approximately 4000 in the year ending June 30, 2024, and 268 Institutional members.
      2. There were 437 institutional journal subscribers.
      3. CAA’s co-publisher of our field-leading journals The Art Bulletin and Art Journal remains Routledge, Taylor & Francis.
   3. Strategic Repositioning Progress
      1. We have continued implementation of the strategic plan to modernize and future-proof CAA.
      2. CAA is prioritizing investment in technological infrastructure to support global presence and responsiveness.
      3. We have expanded our hybrid offerings and piloted professional development webinars.
      4. CAA received the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, a designation which supports CAA’s ongoing fundraising efforts and affirms organizational accountability.
   4. Conference Update
      1. The CAA113 attendance target was 2500 and this was exceeded by 1000 with just over 3500 attendees.
      2. Staff, especially the very small conference team, was recognized for exceptional effort in achieving this milestone.
      3. All staff members present were asked to stand to be acknowledged.
3. Approval of 112th Annual Business Meeting Minutes [ACTION ITEM]
   
   1. Jennifer Rissler moved to approve minutes from the CAA 112th Annual Business meeting; Greg Gilbert seconded the motion.
   2. The minutes were approved unanimously by those present.
4. Old/New Business 
   1. Laura Anderson Barbata (noted for forging a climate crisis partnership), Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz (noted for service on the Annual Conference Committee), Kelly Walters (noted for tote bag design), and Roland Betancourt (noted for contributions to discipline-specific initiatives) were thanked for their service and contributions as Board members and encouraged after they rotate off the Board in May to remain engaged with CAA.
   2. Past CAA President James Hopfensperger honored Morgan T. Payne for nearly 50 years of continuous membership and engaged participation at CAA, especially attendance at Annual Business Meetings. His contributions have also included committee service, authorship of standards and guidelines for the field, and advocacy.
5. Board Election Results – Denise Baxter, CAA Board President
   1. The 2025 Board of Directors slate was announced on December 11, 2024, along with an online voting form. Voting closed on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
   2. The following individuals will join the Board of Directors in May 2025 (4-year term): Jelena Bogdanović, Jennifer Field, Leslie D. Joynes, Carolyn Jean Martin, and Emily Pugh.
   3. Congratulations to Aaron Samuel Mulenga who will also join the Board as a CAA Emerging Professional Director (2-year term).
   4. All who were not elected were encouraged to run again next year. Some of the most productive Board members in CAA history ran several times before they were elected, including some past CAA presidents.
   5. The CAA Nominating Committee was thanked for their contributions to this election cycle.
6. Adjourn
   1. The CAA 114th Annual Conference will be held February 18–21, 2026 at the Hilton Chicago. The date of the Annual Business Meeting will be February 20, 2026.
   2. The CAA 113th Annual Business Meeting adjourned at 12:24 p.m. ET.