Small Museum Association

2007 Annual Conference Call for Papers

 

 

The Small Museums Association (SMA) is planning its 23^rd Annual Conference in Ocean City, Maryland on February 26 - 28, 2007.  This conference brings together more than 250 museum professionals from a wide range of institutions each year, primarily from the Mid-Atlantic region.  The conference aims towards improving professionalism within the small museum community by providing a unique and comfortable environment for individuals and institutions with diverse experiences to meet and learn from each other.  Conference sessions typically provide practical, relevant discussions, and examples for small museums and institutions with limited budgets.

 

This year, the Winter Conference seeks to recognize the changing face of the Small Museum through the theme of “Stayin’ Alive.”  This topic addresses the need for museums to reach beyond normal comfort zones, look outside the box, and develop new and exciting educational programs, long range plans, collections policies and more in order to remain relevant in a quickly changing world.   Information and ideas will be disseminated through workshops, poster session, panel discussions, and speakers.

 

As small museums work diligently to meet daily challenges, resources within the larger community can be overlooked. One of the goals of the Annual Conference is to give professionals and volunteers practicing at small museums the necessary tools to form strong community relationships and to mine the wealth of unsuspected resources available.  Strong partnerships can lead to increased capacity for small museums and increased awareness of the needs of the surrounding community.

 

We invite proposals for sessions, based on original research.  Proposals can be based on a number of topics, including, but not limited to:

 

v      History, Science, or Art Educational Programming and Evaluation

v      The Role of the Museum in the Community

v      Conservation and/or Restoration Issues/Practices

v      New Approaches to Exhibit Design

v      The Visitor and Visitor Services

v      State and Federal Education Guidelines

v      Aspects of Collection Management

v      Non-Profit and Museum Management

v      Theory in the Museum

v      Museums and the Internet, Distance Learning

 

Conference sessions are held from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday, February 26 and from 10:00 AM to noon on Tuesday, February 27, 2007.

 

Individuals from the museum/historic preservation and related supporting communities who would like to present at this dynamic and friendly conference are invited to submit proposals to the address below by July 14, 2006; you will be notified by August 31, 2006.

 

Session Proposal Application

 

 

Your Name: _______________________________________________________________

Institution/Organization/Company: _____________________________________________

Your Address: ______________________________________________________________

Your Phone Number: ________________________________________________________

Your Cell Phone Number: ____________________________________________________

Your Email Address: ________________________________________________________

 

Preferred Session Date:  Monday (Feb. 26) _____   Tuesday (Feb. 27)       Either: _____

Preferred Session Length (select one):  60 minutes _____   90 minutes _____

 

Title of Proposed Session:

 

Description of Proposed Session:

           

 

 

 

 

Return to and for questions contact:

 

Michael DiPaolo, SMA Speakers Coordinator

The Lewes Historical Society

110 Shipcarpenter Street

Lewes, Delaware 19958

 

Email: [log in to unmask]

Phone: 302-645-7670

Fax: 302-645-2375