February 21 | 2025

SEMC will be represented (and representing our region!) at MAD2025!

Learn more about what the SEMC Council is working toward on behalf of all SEMC members. Questions about the work of the SEMC Council? Please reach out to Zinnia Willits to put you in contact with individual Council members.

We introduced the SEMC Council Cup in 2023 to acknowledge individual giving and award the state that collectively contributed the most to SEMC’s year-end campaign. North Carolina won the 2023 Council Cup Challenge!

The 2024/2025 Council Cup competition is in full swing.

We will determine the winner of the 2025 Council Cup by totaling all contributions made to SEMC general operations between June 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. 

As of February 2025, North Carolina is once again in the lead for the 2025 SEMC Council Cup with Georgia now running a close second (knocking Louisiana into the No. 3 spot!)

Please consider participating in this challenge and making a gift to support SEMC general operations including:

• Paid internships for students working with SEMC
• Member programs (virtual and in-person)
• SEMC Communications such as E-News and Inside SEMC
• Annual Meeting Travel Stipends

Click the button below to contribute to the 2025 Council Cup (to be awarded at SEMC2025 in Montgomery, Alabama). Under “Purpose for Donation” please select “General Operating” and then add “Council Cup Challenge” in the comment section.

When you contribute to SEMC, your dollars help build a long-term fund that enables us to serve southeast museum professionals and support the museums in our region. All donations to SEMC (any amount!) are appreciated and tax-deductible, and they help support members and programs.

On behalf of all of us at SEMC, THANK YOU for your support. We will continue to work hard to make SEMC your professional home.

SEMC is a membership organization committed to fostering networking, professional development, educational opportunities, communication, and diversity for museum professionals across a dynamic region. This is (and will continue to be) our purpose. Last month a group of individuals (administrators, cohort, instructors, and partners) came together to participate in the 2025 Jekyll Island Management Institute (JIMI) - this experience was the embodiment of the SEMC mission.

Together this group navigated a multitude of uniquely 2025 disruptions (snow/ice/power out on Jekyll Island...what?) over the course of 8 days that offered 24 engaging, contemplative sessions covering current and future best practices across the museum landscape led by dedicated professionals with years of experience. A cohort of twenty unique individuals arrived on the Island as strangers. They came from different states, museums, and areas of expertise initially bonded by a common love of museums and museum practice. They left JIMI2025 as friends - committed to supporting and uplifting each other and determined to do what is right for the communities their organizations represent - even in the face of great challenges. The JIMI experience is powerful and SEMC staff are honored to have the opportunity to build on the strong foundation previous JIMI administrators and alums created.

Special JIMI2025 awards focused on care, hospitality, pride of place, slow/deep looking, bravery, and inclusive leadership - all of which were represented in spades among the group. Thank you to the 2025 cohort, instructors, partners, SEMC Council, and staff for trusting SEMC and fully engaging in the experience. We left Jekyll Island with memories for a lifetime and an ironclad network of support.

Below are a few images from JIMI2025. It was such a wonderful week!

SEMC is grateful to Nathan Moehlmann and Goosepen Studio & Press for excellence in design services.

The Southeastern Museums Conference will hold its 2025 Annual Meeting October 20-22, 2025 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel in Montgomery, Alabama. 

About the 2025 Conference Theme

Developed by the Montgomery local arrangements committee, the 2025 SEMC Conference theme, Future Forward: Reach, Remember, Reclaim, reflects the way Montgomery museums are looking toward the future by embracing new voices and new interpretations. We must reach into the community, remember and reconcile our past, and reclaim our community stories and spaces. In Montgomery, let's explore emerging trends and technologies in museums, share solutions and success stories, and come together to find a way forward. 

Join SEMC attendees for direct conversation, networking, and professional growth and development this fall in Montgomery!

Registration will open this spring.

Greetings, Members!

Exciting things are happening at SEMC as we begin the work of shaping the 2025 Annual Meeting! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed their ideas by submitting a proposal—because of your engagement, we received over 100 submissions! What’s next for your proposal? It’s now in the hands of our dedicated Program Committee. This Committee is made up of museum professionals from across our region, and they are hard at work reviewing proposals in small group teams. They are thoughtfully considering how each session or workshop aligns with our conference theme, suggested topics, and the needs of our museum community.

This collaborative effort will culminate at our Mid-Year Meeting in Montgomery on March 13th, where the Committee will meet in person (or virtually!) to tour session spaces, discuss each proposal, make recommendations, and ultimately finalize the SEMC2025 program. It will be a day of spirited discussion, all with the shared goal of creating a dynamic, diverse, and engaging conference experience for everyone. By late March, session chairs will receive notification of the Committee’s decisions.

It’s always inspiring to see our community come together to shape each annual meeting. Thank you again to everyone who submitted proposals and to the incredible 2025 Program Committee for their hard work and dedication.



Because of our collective work, SEMC2025 in Montgomery is shaping up to be an unforgettable experience!

Heather Nowak, SEMC Program Administrator

The SEMC 2024 Program Committee at work in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Patrick Martin brings seven years of diverse museum experience in both nonprofit and government settings. A dedicated member of SEMC for six years, he most recently served as the Museum Technician at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. Previously, Patrick was the Education Coordinator at the Civil Rights Memorial Center in Montgomery, and he is thrilled to return to this vibrant city as Program Committee Co-Chair for SEMC2025. With expertise in both museum education and collections management, Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge to the committee. He also serves as co-chair for the SEMC Emerging Museum Professional Affinity Group, further demonstrating his commitment to advancing the field.

The Program Committee Co-Chair works closely with the Program Administrator and provides informational, administrative, and organizational support to the Program Committee at large throughout the year.

Is your company interested in supporting the SEMC2025 Annual Meeting through sponsorship? Contact Zinnia Willits to learn more about sponsor opportunities, levels and benefits at zwillits@semcdirect.net or 843-224-0876

Stay Connected: Keep Your SEMC Membership Active

Renewing your membership to SEMC is the best way to stay connected with a vibrant community of museum professionals. By renewing, you gain continued access to valuable resources, including professional development opportunities, networking events, and the latest industry insights. Members also receive discounts at conferences and workshops, helping you grow your expertise and advance your career in the museum field.

If you’re an institutional, business or corporate member, look for our new renewal postcards in the mail! With a convenient QR code on the front, we’re making it easy breezy to keep your membership active. If you’ve switched bundle coordinators, let us know so we can update our records and make sure the right person on your team receives all the important SEMC information.

Renewing your membership ensures your team doesn’t miss out on any benefits and remains an active part of this dynamic and supportive community.

Don’t forget to follow us on social media so you can stay in the know about all things SEMC!

Instagram     semcdirect

Facebook     southeasternmuseums

*X         semc2

*not sure how much longer we are going to keep this platform.....

Have a fantastic week,

Carla

Carla Phillips

Membership & Communications Manager

cphillips@semcdirect.net

Thank you for supporting SEMC through membership!

Watch this new section of E-News to explore cutting-edge technologies transforming museums. From immersive virtual reality exhibits to AI-powered curation tools, discover how museums are embracing innovation to enhance visitor experiences, preserve history, and make art more accessible. We are excited to highlight inspiring examples of technology that are shaping the future of cultural engagement.

QR Codes in Museums: Unlocking New Opportunities in 2025

By Manuel Charr

MuseumNext

December 18, 2024

SEMC Ones to Watch spotlights museum talent making an impact across our region.

This month SEMC proudly features Kelsie Conley as the One to Watch! Kelsie is the Assistant Curator at the Knoxville Museum of Art in Knoxville, Tennesse.

Kelsie's nomination letter highlights her curatorial accomplishments at the Museum and in the wider Knoxville community.

"Kelsie is an outstanding all-around curatorial staff member. Beyond her work ethic, positive outlook, and team-first attitude, she has a brilliant curatorial mind and has developed an extensive knowledge of regional and international contemporary art. Shortly after the KMA announced plans to present a Tennessee Triennial exhibition as part of a statewide Triennial celebration in 2023, she took the initiative to formulate the basis of a compelling and ambitious artist lineup featuring stellar works by seasoned artists such as Betye Saar, Suzanne Jackson, Bessie Harvey, and Rosemary Mayer that were seamlessly intertwined with those by younger artists including Kahlil Robert Irving, Annabeth Marks, and Mary Laube. The KMA’s exhibition received strong reviews, and the museum even purchased a work by Marks for the permanent collection.

Outside of the KMA, Kelsie’s curatorial accomplishments are as impressive. In 2018, she launched Bad Water, an ambitious contemporary art space run out of a 250-square-foot wooden shed in a suburban Knoxville neighborhood with a mission to “engage intentionally with the local community and art communities at large, and defiantly encourage the exhibition of diverse, experimental, and evolving art practices in the American South.” Bad Water is Kelsie's visionary solo effort and self-funded labor of love to enrich the area’s contemporary art dialogue. Bad Water regularly draws a steady stream of local artists and contemporary art fans hungry for adventurous and thought-provoking offerings, which range from sculpture and mixed media to performances by a broad range of artists.

In her key roles at the KMA and Bad Water, Kelsie is doing vital work that is helping transform the contemporary art landscape in East Tennessee and beyond.

Congratulations Kelsie Conley: One to Watch!

SEMC is fortunate to have support from a deep pool of industry partners, foundations, organizations and generous individual donors. We continue to work very hard to produce programs, conferences, and professional development opportunities for our members at affordable rates. Monetary support is meaningful and important to SEMC's mission and perseverance to move forward and continue this work.

Special thanks to all who supported us through monetary donations in December 2024 and January 2025. WE APPRECIATE YOU!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Founded in 1977, the Decorative Arts Trust, a new (2024) Business Associate member, is a nonprofit organization that promotes and fosters the appreciation and study of the decorative arts and material culture. In addition to an engaging calendar of educational programs (including recent Symposia in Charleston, Nashville, and Lexington, and one planned for Atlanta in 2026), the Trust offers a robust program of annual grants and scholarships.

Funding for nonprofit institutions includes grants for publications tied to collections, exhibitions, and conference papers (up to $50,000); grants for exhibitions and conservation projects (up to $15,000); grants for internships (up to $45,000); and the Prize for Excellence and Innovation ($100,000). For graduate students and early career professionals, the Trust offers grants for publishing (up to $5,000), grants for research (up to $2,000), and scholarships for continuing education programs hosted by partner organizations. Visit decorativeartstrust.org/grants for more information. The Trust’s online Bulletin, e-newsletter, biannual Magazine, and social media channels share news about recipients and reminders of application deadlines.

Thank you to The Decorative Arts Trust for being part of the SEMC community!

Monica Obniski, Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, and Neil Grasty, a recent High Museum Curatorial Intern supported by a Decorative Arts Trust grant, at the Trust’s 2024 Emerging Scholars Colloquium, where Neil presented a lecture.

SEMC: Around the Region.....

SEMC staff has the opportunity to interact with members across the region each week...and we see and hear so much. Watch this E-News feature for information we pick up in weekly calls, emails, Zooms, and in-person visits with members!

IAAM staff and several members of the Fisk Jubilee Singers at Mother Emanuel AME Church.

On February 16, the International African American Museum (IAAM) hosted a powerful event at the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina celebrating the rich heritage and enduring legacy of African American culture.

“Awakening of The Ancestors Through Music” celebrated and honored the voices of the past, reminding all of the rich history that shapes our present and inspires our future. This annual Black History program was free to the public and featured the Fisk Jubilee Singers, one of the most legendary and iconic ensembles in American music history.

Founded in 1871, the Fisk Jubilee Singers are renowned for their soulful performances of African American spirituals, which helped preserve and popularize this deeply significant genre. Their unique sound and powerful storytelling have transcended generations, making them a symbol of resilience, cultural pride, and artistic excellence.

Dear SEMC,

I have seen this post a hundred times and each time it pops up I laugh out loud. Try to find something to laugh about each day.

“Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward.”



― Kurt Vonnegut

Take care of yourselves.

Sincerely,

Zinnia Willits, Executive Director

zwillits@semcdirect.net