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ASBA 31st Annual Conference

St. Paul, Minnesota


October 16, 17, 18, 2025



Overview
Lodging



Join us in St. Paul for ASBA’s 31st Annual Conference. Headquartered at the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront hotel above the banks of the mighty Mississippi River.

Come early or stay late

Take a Pre- or Post-Conference Workshop or tour the Minnesota Museum of Art with a guided tour of the museum and an exclusive visit to their Print Room.


Two illustrious botanical artists will offer exciting two-day pre- conference workshop opportunities on Tuesday and Wednesday. Julia Trickey dives into “Celebrating Imperfection” and David Morrison will take time to “Discover the Beauty of Botanical Textures”.

Stay after the conference and plan to paint "Hazelnuts and Acorns on Vellum" in this three-day post-conference workshop with Denise Walser-Kolar.


The 2025 ASBA Conference will be a great blend of hands-on workshops, demonstrations, lectures, tours, and social gatherings. Guaranteed there will be something for everyone!

The complete 2025 conference schedule and registration information will be posted on the ASBA website in June and in the June issue of The Botanical Artist. Registration appointment requests will begin June 1st. Watch for emails that will alert you to this information well in advance.

We are looking forward to the 31st ASBA Conference in Saint Paul this fall and hope to see you there!


Welcome to St. Paul, Minnesota from ASBA and the Great River Chapter!

 

What most often stands out to first-time visitors to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul is the strong connection to nature. This large and sophisticated metropolitan area is studded with lakes, rivers, parks and preserves. Minnesota is known for cold winters and hot summers, but you’ll find that people here tend to embrace the outdoors no matter what the weather holds.

 

While the region is often associated with Scandinavian or northern European heritage, the name “Minnesota” is derived from its Dakota name “Mni Sota Makoce,” which is translated to mean “land where waters are so clear they reflect the clouds.” Today, our metropolitan area is still home to Dakota and Anishinaabe descendants in addition to thriving multicultural communities, and we look forward to leading you through many facets of Minnesota at ASBA 2025.


Our conference theme, “Home of the Headwaters” pays homage to the Mississippi River, which originates in northern Minnesota and flows through the downtowns of both Minneapolis and St. Paul, making its way to the Gulf of Mexico. A secondary theme that has emerged for this year’s conference revolves around what happens when scientists, artists, and conservators work together. Botanical artists can fully appreciate this confluence, so conference programming will lean into that theme.

 

Although the smaller of the Twin Cities, St. Paul is the State Capitol with its own colorful history. Nearby restaurants provide great dining opportunities in charming atmospheres, and other restaurant options are just a short ride from the hotel.  Here’s a link to encourage your wanderings: https://www.visitsaintpaul.com.


Should you need a break from painting, consider meandering a few blocks away to have tea at the historic St. Paul Hotel, take in a concert at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts or just stand in historic Rice Park and smile at the bronze Peanuts Gang statues, where Schroeder plays his piano and Lucy doesn’t hear a note. Maybe you can catch a hockey game at the Excel Energy Center or, if you want to go further afield, take a walk or drive along St. Paul’s Summit Avenue, which passes by the St. Paul Cathedral and runs to the Mississippi River, boasting the longest stretch of Victorian-era mansions in the country.  On the Minneapolis side of the metro area, the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Birding Sanctuary is the oldest public wildflower garden in the country. It’s well worth a visit in the spring and summer.

Fun fact – did you know that Minnesota is home to both Honey Crisp and Sweet Tango apples, developed by the University of Minnesota at the award-winning Minnesota Landscape Arboretum? One of our conference courses will take you deeper into the world of apple research at “The Arb.” While there, you’ll have a chance to visit the amazing Andersen Horticultural Library.  ASBA 2025 will also include opportunities to visit the  Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Bell Museum of Natural History (which will be hosting the Curious Allies exhibit during ASBA 2025), as well as the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park. A small group will have an opportunity to do a nature sketching adventure at a rich fen, and let’s not forget the simple but enriching opportunities throughout the conference to meet and mingle with other botanical artists – a perennial highlight of ASBA!

As you can see, we’ve designed exciting programming that features the amazing classes and presentations for which ASBA Conferences are always known, while giving you the chance to explore the local flavor and essence of what makes Minnesota – the Home of the Headwaters – so special.



HOTEL INFORMATION


InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront Hotel

11 E Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55101

 

The InterContinental Hotel (our conference venue) is perched high above the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul, close to historic Rice Park and other architectural treasures. Nearby restaurants provide great dining opportunities in charming atmospheres, and exploring other restaurant options is just a short ride from the hotel.

 


The ASBA Conference room rate is $159 plus applicable taxes. This rate applies to either King or to Two Queen standard rooms. The rate of $159 per night is extended to ASBA for the period October 12th – 22nd.


Rooms fill quickly, so make your reservation as soon as possible.

 

Please use this link to book your stay and receive the ASBA Group Rate

 

https://www.intercontinental.com/redirect?path=rates&brandCode=IC&localeCode=en®ionCode=1&hotelCode=MSPSP&checkInDate=12&checkInMonthYear=092025&checkOutDate=22&checkOutMonthYear=092025&_PMID=99801505&GPC=X7O&cn=no&viewfullsite=true


Check-in:  3:00 pm 
Check-out: 11:00 am 
Smoke Free Property


On-Site curbside valet parking daily: $20.00 ($30.00 for oversize)

This rate includes unlimited in and out access

 

Additional Parking options: There are some public parking ramps in the area that have rates around $20.00 overnight. The Victory Ramp is recommended.


AIRPORT INFORMATION

 

InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront is 7.3 miles from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP).

 

https://www.mspairport.com


SEEKING A ROOMMATE?

 

You can connect directly with other members seeking a roommate. Follow these simple stems and connect:

1. If you are not already logged in, log into the ASBA website 
https://www.asba-art.org/ 
2. Locate the “Member Features” menu
3. Click on “View > Member Interests
4. Click on the down arrow next to “Annual Conference Hotel Room Sharing
5. Click “View Members”.  You will be able to see all members who are seeking a roommate.
6. To add your name to the list, click on "Sign Me Up"
7. Coordinate room sharing with any listed members by contacting them directly.  
8. Once you have finalized plans with your roommate, don't forget to remove your name from the list by clicking "Remove Me"

 

 


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