IVLA celebrates its 40th Anniversary

Welcome to the website of the 41st Annual Conference of the International Visual Literacy Association (IVLA). The conference is proudly hosted by DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.

Since our last annual meeting, we have been celebrating the 40th Anniversary of IVLA, the oldest international, not-for-profit association of researchers, educators, designers, media specialists, and artists dedicated to the study and practice of Visual Literacy. We look forward to having you participate with us in a series of special events dedicated to celebrating the legacy of IVLA and its welcoming circle of friends and community of exceptional professionals. We are also excited to announce that this year our keynote speakers will be Drs. Susan Metros (University of Southern California, LA), Lynne Schrum (George Mason University, VA) and Gunther Kress (University of London, UK).

A central travel hub for both national and international visitors, Chicago is the 3rd largest city in the United States and among the top 25 urban regions in the world. Among other things, Chicago houses a variety of world-renowned museums including the Chicago Art Institute, Field Museum, and Museum of Science and Industry. Visitors come not only to enjoy cultural attractions, but to take in a baseball game, eat at the famous Lou Malnati’s pizzeria, play in the Crown Fountain at Millennium Park, visit the famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra, or shop till they drop on the Magnificent Mile. Native Chicagoans are known for taking a jog along the lakefront, hanging out at the over 552 parks, or attending the myriad fall festivals. In coming to Chicago, you will find a fresh, fun, and culturally bursting city welcoming you to take it all in and enjoy your visit.

Founded in 1898, our conference venue DePaul University is America’s largest Catholic Higher Education institution, hosting more than 24,300 students and 1842 faculty. DePaul is the only one of the nation’s 10 largest private universities where the faculty priority is on teaching. DePaul remains committed to providing a quality education through personal attention to students from a wide range of backgrounds.

We are looking forward to meeting you all in Chicago in October! We are doing our best to make this event both fruitful and enjoyable!

Maria Avgerinou, DePaul University, IVLA president and IVLA '09 Chair
Petronio Bendito, Purdue University, IVLA '09 Co-Chair
Cindy Kovalik, Kent State University, IVLA '09 Co-Chair