The Tessitura Conference is the most invigorating and also exhausting week of the year. It feels amazing to be surrounded by some of the smartest, most dedicated arts administrators from across the country and around the world.

Trying to take it all in, learn, and connect can sometimes be overwhelming in the best way. I was thrilled to be joined by my wonderful colleague in Arts & Culture, Senior Media Planner Raphael Anastas. Here are some of our takeaways from TLCC 2024.

Meghan Goria: I have several candidates for my favorite moment of the conference, but you go first. What was yours?

Raphael Anastas: My favorite moments were when I had the opportunity to network with fellow attendees with whom I shared a common identity. For example, I attended a few of the LGBTQIA+ affinity group sessions and left each one feeling that I made at least one meaningful connection. I’ve found that relating to one another through shared life experiences is the best way to build and maintain lasting relationships in our industry, so I’m really grateful I got to know so many new people on a deeper level this year!

Meghan Goria: Mine has to be the keynote from la diva herself, Renée Fleming. She shared some of her work with organizations focusing on music and dance therapy as well as the neurology of how music contributes to mental and physical healing. It checked all the boxes for me of impact and opera queenery.

Raphael Anastas: Also, let’s not forget that chic ‘brat’ green blazer she was wearing. Renée IS the moment—both when it comes to advancing music education and staying on trend! But speaking of trends, we actually decided to break away from the trend with our booth at TLCC this year…

Meghan Goria: Yes, we made a conscious decision this year to move away from the normal swag at our table. For one, it’s a more sustainable option, but we also wanted a space to be able to have a little fun and give everyone’s brain a break! I remember how I used to feel toward the end of the conference as an attendee, like I just couldn’t fit another piece of information in my brain! We loved having folks stop by for a bit of Jenga and a chat.

Meghan Goria: Raphael, what was your biggest takeaway from the conference this year?

Raphael Anastas: The biggest takeaway for me was the eagerness from organizations to adapt to the evolving landscape of AI technology, and leverage emerging tools to bring efficiencies to their teams, whether it be marketing, fundraising, or web development. Our friends at The Kennedy Center, San Francisco Opera, California Academy of Sciences, and Auckland Theatre Company shared some fascinating ways that they have adopted AI to meet their various business goals, and I was very inspired and proud to be amongst non-profit innovators in this particular space. 

Meghan Goria: Mine was that most organizations seem to be back or close to back to where they were in 2019, but that there is still plenty of work to do to make sure that we’re all keeping up with audience needs and technological innovation in the future.