2027 Conference and Education Programs – Call for Proposals

Deadline: August, 6, 2026

General Details

The California Preservation Foundation is excited to announce that the 2027 Annual California Preservation Conference will take place next Spring in downtown San Jose (April or May 2027, with specific dates to be confirmed). The conference will culminate with the 2027 California Preservation Awards gala and reception. We invite you to share your innovative ideas for sessions, tours, or other program offerings!

Proposals received here will be considered for both our annual conference as well as for our education programs throughout the year, including workshops, seminars, webinars, and other special events. 

Submitting a Proposal or Idea

Simply fill out the form below. This simple form is meant to be completed in less than five minutes, and you may submit as many program suggestions as you would like. Simply refresh this page to submit another proposal or idea. 

Please submit your ideas by Thursday, August 6, 2026. The 2027 conference will take place in San Jose, California—a region rich in cultural heritage, environmental diversity, and community-led preservation efforts.

We invite proposals that chart new directions in historic preservation and actively engage diverse communities across race, class, gender, age, and ability. Submissions that highlight grassroots advocacy, place-based interpretation, building technologies, code development, and strategies for environmental sustainability and climate resilience are especially encouraged. We also welcome proposals that reflect the broad scope of the preservation field, including public history, digital humanities, materials conservation, and innovative tools for documentation, planning, and policy.

Tracks from 2026 included: 

• Reuse & Revitalization — Exploring creative solutions for housing, density, and the reuse of historic buildings.

• Participation & Engagement — Strengthening partnerships with communities, advocates, and stakeholders to broaden preservation’s reach

• Tools & Technology — Harnessing new technologies and digital tools that transform how we document, interpret, and protect historic places.

• History & Heritage — Deepening our understanding of the diverse stories, people, and movements that shape California’s built environment.

• Preservation Planning & Practice — Advancing policy, planning, and professional standards to ensure preservation remains a vital part of community development.

Submit Your Proposal or Idea Here

Not all fields are required. If you’re unsure about potential speakers or just want to propose a general idea for a program, feel free to submit it! However, please note that more detailed submissions help our program and education committees better evaluate your proposal for inclusion in the conference or online programming.

California Preservation Conference - Proposal Form

Your Contact Information

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

I may be interested in serving on the Conference Programs Committee

A description of the conference programs committee is available here

Tell us about your proposed program

Please tell us about the program below. ALL programs (no matter which theme) should strive to include or highlight BIPOC communities or speakers. One way to ensure these sessions are meeting our conference goals and objectives is to look at the values that should be woven throughout the conference.  Click here to view the values.

What type of venue is preferred?

On-site Classroom-based Session

Online Zoom-based Session

Off-site Tour (Riverside / Inland Empire Area Only)

Off-site Workshop / Mobile Workshop (Riverside / Inland Empire Area Only)

Working Group

OtherOther

Is this location fully accessible?

No Yes

For off-site Mobile Workshops and Tours - Please share any images that we may use in promoting the program

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Program Details

Please give a descriptive and creative title for this program (Title format, 15 words or less) *

What theme or category best describes this proposal?

Advocacy

Housing & Density

Innovation and Preservation Technology

Non-built Historic Resources or Intangible Cultural Heritage

Topics Specific to the Riverside / Inland Empire Region

Adaptive Reuse & Site Revitalization

Local Government / City Planning

Climate Change / Adaptation

OtherOther

Tell us about the program you're proposing in (150 words or less, please!) *

Do you have any speakers or moderators in mind for this program?

Yes

No

Proposed Speaker(s)

First Name

Last Name

Title

Organization

Email

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