ACTIVITIES

In addition to quality continuing education, unlimited networking opportunities will be available. Tuesday evening will feature the Conference’s Welcome Reception with our vendors at the Sheraton Denver Hotel.

Both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings include optional Power Walks for those who would like to kick start their day with some exercise while taking a brisk walking tour of the city and the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall. Participants should meet in the hotel lobby each morning for a 6:00 a.m. departure. Walkers will return to the hotel in plenty of time to prepare for the day.
Wednesday evening, guests will participate in AAA’s Evening Out at the Denver Art Museum. The evening will be complete with fun, networking, a delicious dinner, awards and entertainment. Participants will be able to walk the few short blocks to the Museum for a casual evening filled with fun. Conference registrants will be captivated – a night out you won’t want to miss.

The Venue
The Denver Art Museum is a private, non-profit, educational resource for Colorado. The mission of the museum is to enrich the lives of Colorado and Rocky Mountain residents through the acquisition, preservation, and presentation of art works in both the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, and by supporting these works with exemplary educational and scholarly programs.

Since its beginnings in the 1890s as the Denver Artists’ Club, the Denver Art Museum has had a number of temporary homes, from the public library and a downtown mansion to a portion of the Denver City and County Building.

The museum opened its own galleries on 14th Avenue Parkway in 1949, and a center for children’s art activities was added in the early 1950s. In 1971, we opened what’s now known as the North Building. The DAM’s most recent expansion, the Frederic C. Hamilton Building, opened in October 2006.

Today, the 356,000-square-foot museum complex includes collection gallery space, three temporary exhibition venues, and the Lewis I. Sharp Auditorium. In addition to their art collections, the Denver Art Museum is internationally recognized for their family-friendly environment, and has received critical acclaim for encouraging art appreciation through interactive activities.

The Museum is home to several temporary exhibits at any one time and those attending the AAA Evening Out will get to see it all after museum hours.Frederic C. Hamilton Building
Continuing a legacy of bold architecture, the DAM commissioned architect Daniel Libeskind to design an expansion that would accommodate the museum’s growing collections and programs. The 146,000-square-foot Hamilton Building opened to the public October 7, 2006.
The Hamilton Building's design recalls the peaks of the Rocky Mountains and geometric rock crystals found in the foothills near Denver. "I was inspired by the light and the geology of the Rockies, but most of all by the wide-open faces of the people of Denver," says Libeskind. The building is covered in 9,000 titanium panels that reflect the Colorado sunshine. To learn more, visit Hamilton Building website.

North Building
In 1971, the museum opened what is now known as the North Building, designed by Italian architect Gio Ponti and Denver-based James Sudler Associates. The seven-story structure, 210,000-square-foot building allowed the museum to display its collections under one roof for the first time.

The North Building was an innovative move away from traditional, temple-style museum architecture. More than a million reflective glass tiles on the building’s exterior complement the dramatic windows and pierced roofline of the building’s castle-like facade. "Art is a treasure, and these thin but jealous walls defend it," said Gio Ponti.

Optional Post-Conference Tour
AAA Tours Coors Brewery and the City of Denver
Friday, June 19, 2009
12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

For those taking some time to see the sights of the Denver area, the Association will be hosting a half-day tour including a private tour of Coors Brewery.

The Coors Brewery in Golden is the world’s largest single brewery. Established by Adolph Coors in 1873, Coors is the third-largest brewing company, and their brands include Coors, Coors Light, Killians Red, Zima and Keystone.

Participants will leave the Sheraton Denver at 12:00 Noon on Friday, June 19, 2009 and will travel by motorcoach to the Brewery. Guests will enjoy lunch, a tour with a stop in the Brewery’s hospitality bar (for those who can prove they are at least 21 years of age), followed by a Denver city tour before returning to the Sheraton.

The optional tour is $75 per person and will fill quickly!