Muse Conference | March 5th-8th, 2020
Muse with Us Over 4 Days in Downtown Bend
The annual Muse Conference brings together local change-makers with internationally recognized artists, authors, athletes, entrepreneurs, activists, and social change leaders to celebrate International Women’s Day and kick-off Women’s History Month. Our 8th annual event will take place March 5th-8th, 2020 in Bend, Oregon.
We hope you will join us for 4 days of art installations, films, interactive panel discussions, keynote talks, live performances, and breakout workshops designed to explore our individual and collective stories and deepen our sense of belonging to each other and our world.
Youth Voices are always a highlight of the Main Muse Conference.
We welcome many exciting Muse keynote speakers to our stage.
The Muse Hub provides space and time to connect with community.
Muse Salons offer opportunities to listen, learn, and interact.
WHAT OUR MUSES ARE SAYING
Kind words from our Muses about their experience at the annual Muse Conference in Bend, Oregon. If you’d like to submit a comment about one of our programs or events, share your thoughts here.
2019 Schedule (2020 schedule coming in January)
Thursday at Muse Hub (849 NW Wall Street)
Muse Check-In 4:00-6:00 pm
*pick up materials, passes, programs
Muse Film Series 5:00-7:00 pm
Friday at Muse Hub (849 NW Wall Street)
Muse Salon Series 9:00-5:00pm
*series of interactive panel discussions. details below.
Muse Art Show 5:30-7:30pm
Saturday at Tower Theatre (835 NW Wall St)
Muse Conference Main Program
*full day of keynotes, panels, and performances
Conference 9:30am-4:30pm
*with lunch break
Muse Hub Reception 4:30-7:00pm
*open to all at Muse Hub
Private Dinner 7:00-9:30pm
*Presenters & All-Access Pass Holders
Sunday at Muse Hub (849 NW Wall Street)
Muse Workshop 9:00-11:00 am
Unpacking White Feminism with Rachel Cargle
Muse Open Forum Discussion 1:00-3:00pm
A gun violence prevention discussion with youth activists from the Brady Campaign’s Team Enough.
Muse Check-In 4:00-6:00 pm *pick up materials, passes, programs
Muse Film 5:00-7:00 pm
We will be screening Unlocked Films latest documentary “7 Hill.” The 7 Hills skatepark teaches children from all over the world how to skate, and lessons in humanity. A truly uplifting story of people overcoming hate. The filmmaker will be present. We will also feature a very special Q&A with a local youth and a youth featured in the film.
Muse Salon Series 9:00-5:00pm
Our Muse Salons are interactive panel discussions on important topics affecting our community. They feature local women and youth and provide opportunities for introspection and group dialogue. Our Muse Salon Series will be held in the Muse Hub located at 849 NW Wall St. You register for each salon separately. The cost for each is $15. You can also purchase a full series pass for $50.
9:00-10:30
How We Move Through Transitions: This salon will feature women who are working to provide resources for various life transitions from teen anxiety to end of life. Moderated by Kelly Kearsley.
11:00-1:00 *Bring Brown Bag Lunch*
How We Feed Our Community: This salon will explore local food systems and feature women working to feed our community in a variety of ways. Moderated by Meiko Lunetta.
1:30-3:00
How We Can Become Better Allies: This salon will feature a facilitated discussion around how we can build a more supportive community for everyone. Moderated by Erin Rook & Kerani Mitchell.
3:30-5:00
How We Move Beyond Teen Stereotypes: This Salon will feature local youth discussing the stereotypes and how to move beyond. This is recommended for all ages – not just teens – to attend. Moderated by Ashlee Davis.
Muse Art Show 5:30-7:30pm
Our Muse Art Show will feature local and visiting artists who are using Art as a tool for social change. We will be showcasing photography, painting, sculpture, and student art all created to spark conversation about issues in our community and beyond. Our Muse Art Show will be up throughout the conference weekend, but we invite our attendees to join us for a special reception Friday evening at the Muse Hub located at 849 NW Wall St. You do not need to register. The event is free to Muse Conference attendees.
Muse Conference Main Program
*full day of keynotes, panels, and performances
Muse Hub doors open. 8:00am
Tower doors open 9:00am
Conference 9:30am-12:00pm
Kathleen Saadat with Erin Rook
Erika Macalpine, Sylvana Yelda with Ruth Williamson
Traci Rossi with Julie Harrelson
Lora Haddock with Shannan Kelley
Rachel Cargle
Paola Mendoza with Kerri Kelly
Dani Burt with Karen Cammack
Performance: Teafly Peterson, Hillary Hurst, Esmeralda Montejano, Liliana Cabrera
**lunch break from 12:00-2:00pm
Conference 2:00pm-4:30pm
Performance: Blossom
Doniece Sandoval with Anyssa Bohanan
Aalayah Eastmond, Tatiana Washington, Anahi Ballesteros with Kyleanne Hunter
Cecile Richards
Tony Hawk, Cathy Goodman, Oliver Percovich with Amy Richards
Tarana Burke with Rachel Cargle
Muse Hub Reception 4:30-7:00pm
*open to all at Muse Hub
Private Dinner 7:00-9:30pm
*Presenters & All-Access Pass Holders
Muse Workshop 9:00-11:00 am
Unpacking White Feminism with Rachel Cargle
Rachel Cargle is an activist, writer, and lecturer. Her activist and academic work are rooted in providing intellectual discourse, tools, and resources that explore the intersection of race and womanhood.
This work will explore the history of feminism through the lens of race. Uncover layers of unlearned details, revealing the problematic effects that white centered activism has had on the past and present of the feminist movement and action items you can take to be more intentional and inclusive.
Muse Open Forum 1:00-3:00 pm
Gun Violence Prevention Discussion with Team Enough
Led by V.P. of Programming for The Brady Campaign Kyleanne Hunter and featuring members of Team Enough: Aayalah Eastmond, Tatiana Washington, and Anahi Ballesteros.
Formed in 2018, Team Enough is a youth-led initiative that educates and mobilizes young Americans across the country on gun violence prevention. The group is supported by the Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence. This forum is free and open to all.
PRESENTERS
Each year, we feature the voices, stories and conversations of numerous women and girls and those who support them who are creating positive change in their lives, in their communities, and in our world.
Our Many 2019 Muse Presenters + Action Steps:
Artist, Activist, Women's March Art Director
Paola Mendoza
Action Step
BEND WOMEN’S MARCH
MUSE Conference is proud to kick-off Bend Women’s March: A Month-Long Series of Events to Celebrate Women. Please click here to see other exciting women-inspired events happening in the month of March in Bend, OR. 
TRAVEL TO BEND
welcome to the perfect inspiration + recreation destination
The Muse Conference is proud to welcome attendees to beautiful Bend, Oregon where we will gather to celebrate women and girls creating positive change locally, nationally and globally.
Nestled between the High Desert and the Cascade Mountains, Bend offers a lovely backdrop for visitors with an intimate setting, ideal for mixing inspiration and recreation.
Centrally located, we highly recommend reserving at the Oxford Hotel. With a luxurious approach and distinctly Oregon touches, The Oxford Hotel is also within easy walking distance of conference venues, premium shopping areas, a diverse collection of restaurants and bars, and a number of other attractions. The boutique hotel has an intimate footprint with 59 eco-friendly, urban decor suites all elegantly appointed.
Find more lodging, attractions, recreation, and a map of Bend at VisitBend.com.
FLYING TO BEND
The Bend Redmond Roberts Field Airport (RDM) Airport is only 20 minutes away from the downtown Bend, host to a number of Muse-related activities.
Flights are provided by Alaska, United, Delta, and American Airlines. These carriers offer arriving and departing flights daily to and from Denver, Los Angeles, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle.
DRIVE TIME TO BEND
- Portland: 3 hours
- Seattle: 6 hours
- Boise: 5 hours
- San Francisco: 8 hours
Please allow additional travel time as needed, weather conditions are variable and the views are amazing!
ATTRACTIONS NOT TO MISS
These are just a few of the attractions and beautiful spots to visit while in Bend. Check out Visit Bend’s website for more trip ideas and how to make the most of your stay.
- Mt. Bachelor
- Old Mill District
- Tumalo Falls
- Cascade Scenic Byway
EVENT PARTNERS
If you would like to become a MUSE partner, please see our partnership opportunities.
We’d like to extend a special thank you to the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund.
The Bend Cultural Tourism Fund (BCTF) is a grant program dedicated to enhancing the local economy through the promotion and cultivation of Bend’s cultural tourism programs. Grants allocated through the BCTF support art and culture based projects and programs that attract tourists to the City of Bend.
Visit Bend established the BCTF with the goal of attracting cultural tourists during the shoulder seasons and winter months – a time of year when the city’s tourism industry struggles, yet a time when cultural tourism organizations are most active.
Muse Conference is supported in part by a grant from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund.
SUSTAINING PARTNERS
PRESENTING PARTNERS
MUSE HUB PARTNER
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
EVENT PARTNERS
Princess Athletics, Bigfoot Beverages, Bryant, Lovelien & Jarvis, Brooks Resources, The Haven, Groove Yoga, Athleta, InFocus, Euijin Gray Designs, Hotbox Betty
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
HUMM Kombucha, Wren & Wild, Lululemon, Oregon Spirit Distillers, Riff, Sunny Yoga Kitchen. Bellatazza, Lake Creek Lodge
MEDIA PARTNERS
LODGING PARTNERS
