Thank you for your interest in speaking at PLACES 2024!
PLACES (formerly RevitalizeWA) is Washington’s annual statewide conference focused on the continued care of place through historic preservation, placemaking, and economic development, brought to you by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and the Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation. PLACES allows preservationists, planners, downtown development professionals, and anyone who cares about place to dive deep into creative ideas, build their network, and inspire new solutions.
This year’s conference—held October 16-18 in Walla Walla—comes at an exciting time for Washington Main Street and the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation, as we both celebrate our 40th year. As milestone birthdays do, it has us thinking more deeply about what we’ve observed over the past several decades and dreaming about what may be by our historic 50th.
We could talk about this for hours (and we will!), but to keep it short: We’re thinking about how we can redefine our metrics of success to prioritize social impact, community engagement, and inclusivity, and how we can all have more fun along the way as we learn, think, discover, and play.
We’re excited to hear your ideas!
Find tips and tricks for submitting a strong proposal and other key proposal guidance in our Session Proposal Guide. Find inspiration from previous sessions by exploring Last Year’s Program. If you’re ready to submit a proposal, jump into Propose a Session.
Guiding Questions
Considering these ideas from multiple perspectives and industries, we’ve selected three guiding questions for this year’s conference:
- How can the preservation field honor intangible heritage and share stories of place, particularly in the absence of physical structures?
- Given the built environment’s influence on our wellbeing, what types of programs and infrastructure are needed to foster social connection and healthy communities?
- How can our historic neighborhoods continue to adapt in ways that encourage people to take risks, experiment, and learn together?
We also welcome submissions covering evergreen topics, including foundational preservation practices, community organizing principles, and place governance.
Timeline
February 15, 2024
Call for Session Proposals opens
March 28, 2024
Call for Session Proposals ends
Mid-April 2024
All proposed sessions will be notified of their acceptance or rejection
May 2024
Registration opens
Contact Us
Thinking about an idea (or a few ideas!) and need help refining? Have questions about the form or process? Email Lydia Felty at ly***@pr********.org, or sign up for an office hours appointment to talk about your idea.
Banner photos by Casey Evans Media.