North Carolina Museums Council - 2027 Session Proposals

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2027 Session Proposals

North Carolina Museum Council Annual Meeting

Asheville, North Carolina

April 3-5, 2027

The Call for Session Proposals is Open!

Submit Your Proposal

The deadline for session proposal submissions is

Friday, October 9, 2026 at 11:59 pm.

Call for Poster Sessions Coming Soon!

For questions about session proposals contact profdevelopment@ncmuseums.org.

2027 Conference Theme

Climbing Upwards: Museums in Times of Change

The 2027 NCMC Conference theme spotlights the transformation and growth of North Carolina Museums. The North Carolina Museum Council’s program committee invites speakers to explore how museums:

Adapt under pressure with new technology, strategies, and tools.
Anchor their programs, exhibits, fundraising, and collection practices in their mission through innovation and creativity.
Develop skills that propel professional growth and leadership in the field and our communities.
Solidify their place in their community as spaces for inclusions, meaningful discussion, and understanding through community engagement and trust.

Types of Sessions to Propose

Several types of sessions proposals are sought and all will be concurrent:

Lecture or Presentation - up to 60 minute session; 1 or 2 presenters recommended and saving time for Q/A
Roundtable - 45-60 minutes; a group discussion focused on conversation, relevant topics and/or debated subjects, an open discussion that includes audience input.
Panel Discussion- 60 minute session; up to 3 presenters with a moderator, presenters should be knowledgeable in their topic of discussion
NEW-Lightning Presentations- Short 10 minute presentations. 1 presenter recommended. This is a great format for students and emerging professionals.

Call for Poster Sessions Coming Soon!

Things to Think About When Developing a Proposal

Inspiration for a session can come from a variety of places: your own experiences, questions you have faced, or sessions you have heard about elsewhere.

NCMC welcomes diverse insights from the variety of institutions and professionals that work in our state, including those who do not work in the museum field. NCMC highly encourages involving multiple presenters in a session. Hearing from professionals who are entry level, mid-career, or senior level is a great way for conference attendees to hear from multiple perspectives.

Though lectures/presentations are our most used format, that does not mean they are always the most effective depending on your content. Time for discussion and questions is important to consider. Feel free to be creative when thinking about the structure within your session. Panels are valuable, but is there a way to put a spin on your presentation? Could you lead a roundtable discussion that promotes a discussion instead of lecture? Consider thinking beyond case studies and towards instruction or analysis of a problem you have faced in the field. Think about what other professionals can take back to their institutions.

Speaker Policy

Speakers do not receive a fee, free registration, or travel considerations for their participation in the NCMC annual meeting. Presenters who plan to attend only their own session and engage in no other conference activities do not have to register. If presenters are only attending their session, they are required to notify the Professional Development Chair via email at profdevelopment@ncmuseums.org.

Thanks to Nick Gray and his Patron View donor database project for partial website sponsorship in 2026.

The North Carolina Museums Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

PO Box 2603, Raleigh, NC 27602-2603

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