🔒 EXCLUSIVE: Session proposals

SEMC2026 ANNUAL MEETING: Winston-Salem, North carolina
september 28-30, 2026

the Application period for 2026 Session proposals is now open!

A great conference requires great sessions! Thank you for taking the time to submit a proposal. The Program Committee review/decision schedule is as follows:

February 6, 2026: Session Proposals due
February 2026: Program Committee reviews and evaluates session proposals.
March 12, 2026: Program Committee meets in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to select proposals for inclusion in the SEMC2026 program.
By late March, 2026: SEMC Program Administrator sends notification of Program Committee decisions to all proposal submitters.

About the 2026 Conference Theme

Developed by the Winston-Salem Local Arrangements Committee, the 2026 theme, Forged in Culture – Focused on the Future celebrates the deep cultural and artistic roots that have shaped Winston-Salem and the Southeast, while also looking ahead to how museums and cultural institutions can evolve with purpose, creativity, and resilience.

This theme invites us to:

Honor the cultural legacies that define our communities;
Strengthen connections between art, history, and innovation; and
Envision the future of museums as inclusive, adaptive spaces that lead with intention.

As we gather in Winston-Salem — a city where art, history, and industry have long intertwined — we will explore how collaboration, creativity, and cultural identity can forge a shared future for museums across the Southeast.

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Before you begin, please review the 2026 SESSION PROPOSAL GUIDE for a quick overview of requirements and helpful tips.

First-time submitter or looking to strengthen your proposal? Check out our TIPS FOR SUCCESS!

Need some inspiration for a proposal idea? View the list of FREQUENTLY REQUESTED TOPICS generated by attendees of the SEMC2025 Annual Meeting.

2026 Session Proposal Application

Questions? Please contact Heather Nowak, SEMC Program Administrator at [email protected]