2024 Annual Meeting Session Proposals

The deadline for submissions has been extended until Wednesday, October 11th!

The North Carolina Museums Council is excited to announce our annual meeting and conference April 7-9, 2024, in Cherokee. This year our conference theme is "Weaving Our Voices" We encourage sessions that focus on authentic collaborations and storytelling.

Weaving Our Voices:

As Museum Professionals, Board Members, Volunteers, Students, and Enthusiasts, we are constantly finding ways to authentically and truthfully tell stories that capture our audience's attention and imagination. This year's North Carolina Museums Council's Annual Meeting in Cherokee challenges all attendees to boldly share the stories your institution stewards by weaving the voices of many into a narrative that empowers our past, present, and future. The concept of weaving encourages many pieces to come together and to work in harmony in order to build something stable and lasting. Using voices in aspects of your work creates an inclusive and equitable story that make your mission and programs relevant today. 

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

• Panel Discussion- 60 minute session; up to 3 presenters with a moderator, presenters should be knowledgeable in their topic of discussion

• Poster Sessions - No time requirement; Have research you want to share? Tell us what you are interested in. Tell us what others in the Museum community need to know. This is a great format for students and emerging professionals

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

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. Thinking 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.

Deadline

The deadline for submissions has been extended until Wednesday, October 11th!

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Selected proposals for the final program will be notified in December.

Thank you in advance for helping to make the 2024 conference an exchange of valuable information and ideas - as well as a time to celebrate how amazing YOU are!

Interested in getting more involved with the conference? Consider joining our new Programs Committee!