Submit by Friday, October 11, 2024

Submission Link

Museums Unwalled: Expanding Horizons

This theme highlights the importance of museums as dynamic entities that engage with communities, foster education, drive cultural change and often go beyond the building itself. By focusing on areas such as community engagement, digital and virtual presence, interdisciplinary collaborations, sustainability, accessibility, and cultural diversity, we aim to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for all attendees.

The primary objective is to provide a platform for museum professionals and others working in the industry to share ideas, best practices, resources and innovative approaches that demonstrate how museums can reach audiences in and beyond our physical spaces. We aim to inspire attendees to think broadly about the potential of their institutions and to foster a spirit of innovation and community engagement. By facilitating discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference will empower current and future museum professionals and  to expand their impact, embrace new challenges, and create meaningful connections with their audiences and communities.

When submitting a session please think about what other professionals can take back to their institutions. 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 - 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 others in the Museum community need to know. This is a great format for students and emerging professionals.

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. All session proposals are welcome, even if you feel they don’t fit the conference theme.

NCMC welcomes diverse insights from the variety of institutions, students, and professionals that work in our state, including those who work adjacent to 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 is Friday, October 11, 2024. Selected proposals for the final program will be notified in December.

Thank you in advance for helping to make the 2025 conference an exchange of valuable information and ideas - as well as a time to celebrate how amazing YOU are!