The California Association of Museums annual conference takes place on March 10 to 13, 2024 in Long Beach, California. The event gathers professionals from museums, cultural institutions, and related sectors to engage in forward-looking discussions about museum futures, share innovative ideas, and explore new practices. With a comprehensive agenda that includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, the conference aims to promote dialogue on topics such as innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability within the museum community.

On Tuesday, March 12, 2024, from 8:45—10:00 am, the conference will host a discussion titled "Flipping the Narrative: A new model for inclusivity in capital projects," focusing on the integration of diversity and equity in museum projects of various budgets and scales—providing insight into creating more inclusive and equitable spaces within the museum sector, emphasizing the importance of community engagement in the architectural design process.

Panelists include Thomas Robinson, Founding Principal of LEVER; Adam Lerner, Executive Director and CEO of Palm Springs Art Museum; Marquise Stillwell, Principal and Founder of Openbox; Susanna Sirefman, Founder and President of Dovetail Design Strategists; and Mark Bessire, Director of the Portland Museum of Art.

The discussion centers on methods for incorporating community voices in the design and execution of museum projects, exploring strategies for inclusive listening and demonstrating how these approaches shaped the vision for the new Portland Museum of Art campus unification and expansion project.