2023 Conference
Session proposals are due March 17, 2023.
Fill out the Call for Proposals form here.
The strength of the NEMA conference comes from you! Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned attendee, we want to hear your best ideas for museum field. If there's a session you've always wanted to see at conference, you might be the one needed to lead it!
NEMA invites you to submit a proposal for a lively, thoughtful and interactive session. We welcome new voices from a variety of institutions, as well as from people outside the field. Presenters from all stages of their careers and from all disciplines are encouraged to submit a proposal–all you need is a good idea!
Share your knowledge of best practices or innovative approaches, strategies for building a successful organization, or how to achieve professional or personal growth. Proposals will be reviewed by the Session Reading Team, which may have suggestions on how to strengthen your session. NEMA does not require that speakers be confirmed at the time of submission, but you are encouraged to identify speakers as early as possible. The more complete your proposal, the more appealing it is to the program committee.
The Schedule
The Session Reading Team will meet in April, and you will be notified whether or not your proposal was accepted by early May. Finalized descriptions of accepted sessions and final speaker’s names and contact information are due in early summer. Please help us meet our deadlines so we can best share your session and others in our conference preview book and conference app in a timely fashion.
Sessions can be 30, 60, or 90 minutes, with 60 minutes as a default. If you have a compelling reason to request a different length (30 minutes, 90 minutes, offsite, or double session), please explain in your proposal. We invite you to be as imaginative as possible in your conference presentation.
Conference sessions may be structured in any one of the following ways, or by another means of delivery that is well thought out and described:
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Debate: Find lively, knowledgeable speakers to present opposing views, plus a firm but open moderator.
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Guest speaker: Find a true expert everyone wants to hear.
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Showcase: Recruit 6-10 participants who will bring materials and create a browsing area on a thematic topic. Sometimes called poster sessions, these benefit from great visuals or interactive elements.
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Panel Presentation: Panels will be limited to no more than 3 speakers plus a chair to ensure adequate time for presentations.
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Think Tank or Roundtable Discussion: Recruit a thoughtful, well-informed person for each table to facilitate discussion on a large-scale topic or interconnected topics.
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Creative or Introductory Workshop: Features at least one interactive segment or new skill building activity in a 90-minute slot.
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In-Depth Workshop: NEMA can accommodate hands-on instruction in a three-hour “double-session” time slot.
Off-site Sessions
In addition to the sessions held at the conference hotel, NEMA will work with area museums to create unique off-site sessions and evening events for conference attendees. If your institution is in the Burlington area and you are interested in hosting a day-long or half-day off-site session or an evening reception or dinner, please contact the NEMA office. Download the Off-site Session and Evening Events Proposal here.
Speaker Policies
Presenters from within the museum community, including vendors and consultants who work with museums, are expected to register for the conference if they are attending conference beyond their session.
Presenters from other fields are welcome guests for the day of their session.
Submit your session proposals by March 17, 2023.
Fill out the Call for Proposals form here.
We recommend saving a local copy of your proposal before submitting, as the system does not generate an automatic email copy for you.
Email confirmation will be sent after the deadline.
Questions? Email scarlett.hoey@nemanet.org.