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This year’s Annual Meeting is designed to spark ideas, fuel connections, and expand horizons. With ten diverse learning tracks, plus dynamic networking opportunities and informal meetups, attendees will find an array of opportunities to learn, share, and grow. No matter your career stage or area of expertise, there is something for everyone. Consider stepping outside your comfort zone to explore sessions beyond your specialty and join your colleagues in shaping the future of museums.
Why Step Outside Your Specialty for Professional Development?
Professional growth is vital for museum practitioners who want to stay relevant and adaptable in a rapidly evolving field. The SEMC Annual Meeting provides you with the opportunity to explore new perspectives, refine your skills, and gain a deeper understanding of your specialty within the broader museum landscape. By stepping beyond your usual content area, you’ll not only broaden your expertise but also gain fresh insights that strengthen both your work and the field as a whole.
Browse the learning tracks below and dive into the 2025 Preliminary Program for detailed session offerings in every track, including the recently announced Pre-Conference Workshop.
Career Development Track
Whether you're just starting out, a seasoned professional, or somewhere in between, learn from multiple sessions dedicated to navigating and advancing your museum career. Gain practical advice, fresh strategies, and the tools you need to thrive in every chapter of your professional journey.
Collections Track
From storage solutions to the safe handling of controlled substances to strategic collections planning, explore the latest trends, tools, and techniques that will help you care for your collections now and set them up for long-term success.
Curatorial Track
Engage in thought-provoking curatorial sessions designed to sharpen your expertise and inspire new approaches to reclaiming cultural spaces. Gain practical insights from experienced professionals and engage in an interactive session featuring eight dynamic curators, sharing the innovative projects and ideas shaping their work today.
Inclusion Track
Explore a wide range of strategies to weave diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion into every facet of museum work. From reimagining exhibits and amplifying underrepresented voices to creating truly accessible spaces, these sessions offer actionable insights to help you make your museum welcoming, and meaningful, for all.
Education Track
Dive into a variety of sessions dedicated to museum education, from designing impactful programs and enhancing interpretation to streamlining school tours and commemorating the American 250th. Gain practical tools and fresh ideas to make learning experiences more engaging and meaningful for every audience you serve.
Exhibits Track
Elevate your museum’s exhibits with innovative techniques, emerging technologies, and fresh approaches to storytelling. Learn how to integrate new voices and create immersive experiences that captivate visitors. With sessions tailored for both beginners and seasoned professionals, and for museums of all sizes, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss the live exhibit design review at the Freedom Rides Museum on October 21st, offering a chance to see theory put into practice.
Emerging Museum Professionals Track
Are you just beginning your museum career? Check out sessions created specifically for Emerging Museum Professionals (EMPs), students and those in their first five years in the field. Gain valuable insights, build your network, and connect with peers navigating the same early-career journey.
Fundraising and Development Track
Whether you work full-time in development or wear multiple hats, take advantage of multiple sessions focused on fundraising, marketing, grant writing, and more, designed to help you and your team reach your goals. These sessions are crafted to support museums of all sizes and types, offering practical tools you can put to work right away.
Leadership Track
Dive into leadership sessions designed to sharpen your skills and expand your impact. Tackle real-world challenges in professional growth, team management, and institutional governance while gaining insights on building leadership capacity and advancing your career.
Technology Track
Stay ahead of the curve with sessions focused on the latest museum technologies. Discover tools and strategies to enhance exhibits, improve videography, boost accessibility, and leverage emerging trends in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social media. Designed for all skill levels, not just tech experts, these sessions will help you confidently put new techniques into practice.
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