Conference Information & Registration
Who Can Attend?
The GIA Conference is the annual national convening for arts grantmakers. Conference attendance is open to staff or board members of foundations, public funding agencies, and corporate giving programs.
Nonprofit organizations whose primary activity is grantmaking must meet eligibility criteria outlined on our Membership page and may only be represented by individuals whose roles involve grantmaking, programming, and/or policy. Board members of National Partner organizations and any fundraising or development staff are not eligible to attend.
To preserve the capacity for open discussion, all attendees must refrain from fundraising or solicitation at the conference.
Contact gia@giarts.org with questions regarding conference eligibility.
Registration Desk Hours
Online registration for the 2017 GIA Conference is now closed. To register, please email Noah Barnes at noah@giarts.org or visit the registration desk at the conference.
The registration desk at the Marriott at the Renaissance Center will be open during the following hours:
Friday, October 27
4:00pm - 8:00pm (Hotel Lobby: Level 3)
Saturday, October 28
7:00am - 9:30am (Marquette: Level 5)
3:00pm - 8:00pm (Ambassador Ballroom Foyer: Level 3)
Sunday, October 29
7:30am - 6:30pm (Ambassador Ballroom Foyer: Level 3)
Monday, October 30
7:30am - 2:30pm (Ambassador Ballroom Foyer: Level 3)
Tuesday, October 31
8:00am - 9:00am (Ambassador Ballroom Foyer: Level 3)
Registration Rates
Early Registration Rates (Payment received by August 31, 2017)
| GIA Members, first individual from organization | $600 |
| GIA Members, additional individuals from organization* | $525 |
| Non-Members | $725 |
| Single Day Rate | $325 |
| Preconferences | $175 |
| Cultural and Community Tour | $100 |
Regular Registration Rates (Payment received on or after September 1, 2017)
| GIA Members | $650 |
| Non-Members | $775 |
| Single Day Rate | $325 |
| Preconferences | $175 |
| Cultural and Community Tour | $100 |
* Group Registrations
In order to receive the group discount, all participants from the same organization must be registered together on the same registration. We recommend registering all participants in your group at one time. If you wish to add additional participants after your registration is complete, you must log in using the password you designate for this account and add them to the existing registration in order to receive the group discount.
Preconferences and tours may only be attended by those who are also registered for the full conference.
Conference Hotel Information
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
400 Renaissance Drive
Detroit, MI 48243
(877) 901-6632
Special conference rate: $179/night, based on availability until October 4 at 5:00pm EDT.
A limited number of rooms are available at the government rate for qualifying government employees.
Guest rooms are reserved for registered conference attendees. Please see your registration confirmation for a link to reserve a guest room at the conference rate.
Guest Fee
The guest fee is $125 in advance and $150 on site. This permits guests of conference attendees to attend the following conference social events:
- Saturday Opening Reception
- Sunday evening Dine-arounds
- Monday evening Special Event
Please note that conference plenary sessions, meals, and conference breakout sessions are not open to guests.
Cancellation Policy
Refunds for cancellations will be processed as follows:
| Cancellation Date | Refund Available |
| Prior to September 1, 2017 | 90% of registration paid |
| September 1-30, 2017 | 50% of registration paid |
| After September 30, 2017 | No refund available |
Accessibility
GIA is committed to making this conference accessible to everyone. Please indicate on your registration form if you require an accommodation or service, and we will do our best to accommodate your request. If you have any questions, please contact us at gia@giarts.org or by phone at (206) 624-2312.
Conference Guiding Principles
Grantmakers in the Arts has a long-held commitment to engaging the community in each city where the annual national conference is held. Read GIA’s Conference Guiding Principles and Practices.
Sustainability at the Conference
In keeping with GIA’s commitment to sustainability and the environment, we do not offer a resource table for distribution of materials at the GIA conference. GIA regularly provides current reports, research, and materials of interest and relevance to the public on our website. Additionally, to further reduce waste, GIA does not provide conference tote bags or miscellaneous handouts.
Conference Documentation
GIA reserves the right to record conference proceedings through videography, photography, and written documentation, including blogs and social media, for non-commercial use on its website and in publications.