Looking Ahead: Excitement for Montgomery and Strength in Challenging Times | | |
The American Alliance of Museums recently posted a statement on the growing threat of censorship in museums, noting that "Museums are among the most trusted institutions in American life. But growing external pressures to change or limit what they display risk narrowing the public’s access to ideas, evidence, and diverse perspectives."
AAM calls on all who value our shared heritage to join museums in resisting censorship so they can continue to educate, connect, and inspire.
Read the Full Statement
AAM has also been publishing monthly updates with the latest information on advocacy efforts aimed at preserving federal support for arts and culture. Information changes rapidly, and social media channels often provide the most up-to-the-minute information. AAM's Advocacy Center is an excellent resource for talking points to use when contacting legislators about issues facing museums and the latest calls to action. Check this link often. All voices and efforts matter.
| | |
First They Came for Black History
A Call to Protect and Preserve Inclusive Museum Narratives
| | Vedet Coleman-Robinson, PhD, President and CEO of the Association of African American Museums, visits The AFRO Archives (photo by Megapixels Media, courtesy the AAAM) | | |
Dr. Vedet Coleman-Robinson, President & CEO of the Association of African American Museums (AAAM), delivers a compelling call to action in her recent Hyperallergic essay, First They Came for Black History. As we approach America’s 250th birthday in 2026, she reminds us that erasing African American stories from museum galleries isn’t just an attack on Black history—it’s a warning sign for all marginalized voices.
At the Southeastern Museums Conference, we believe museums must remain spaces for truth-telling, dialogue, and historical courage if we hope to preserve the full, complex story of our nation. We stand with museum professionals who are working every day to ensure that diverse stories and voices are honored—not erased.
Please read this important piece and consider how museums can work together to protect inclusive history for future generations. We look forward to these discussions at SEMC2025 in Montgomery.
| | SEMC Council - Strategic Plan Working Groups | | 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. | |
|
The SEMC Council is comprised of dedicated museum professionals who offer their time and talent to SEMC. This is both an advisory board and a working Council of individuals recognized for their leadership skills and nominated by their peers to serve.
The 17 Council members lead committees focused on SEMC programs, finance, development, membership, and partnerships. They devote hours to strategic planning and purposeful visioning about who and what we are as a professional organization and how best to meet the needs of the membership. These leaders also support the efforts of SEMC staff in many day-to-day operations, including fiscal oversight and organizational adjustment and growth. Council members are passionate leaders who help ensure SEMC remains responsive, inclusive, and forward-thinking.
This year, the SEMC Council is actively implementing the priorities outlined in SEMC's 2025-2027 Strategic Plan through focused working groups dedicated to revenue, membership, and operations. These groups are driving progress by identifying new opportunities, strengthening organizational sustainability, and enhancing the value we provide to our members. Already, this work has led to the introduction of new membership levels designed to serve the needs of our community better. Looking ahead, the Council is also beginning to explore special initiatives and activities to celebrate SEMC’s 75th Anniversary in 2026, a milestone that will honor our history and look boldly toward the future.
Stay tuned for exciting updates as these plans take shape!
| | | SEMC Council Members Receive Prestigous Awards | | SEMC is proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of two exceptional museum professionals in our region. Brigette Jones was recently honored as the 2025 Pacesetter by the Association of African American Museums, an award recognizing emerging leaders who make transformative contributions to African American museums. Earlier this month, Ahmad Ward was named an HBCU Living Legend, a distinction celebrating individuals who have advanced and preserved the legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, exemplifying the innovation, dedication, and leadership that inspire us all. Their work not only advances the mission of their institutions but also strengthens the entire museum field. Join us in congratulating these remarkable leaders! | | Brigette Jones received the Pacesetter Award at the 2025 AAAM Annual Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina. This award recognizes museum professionals who have demonstrated exceptional innovation and dedication to African and African American-focused institutions nationally and internationally during the first ten years of their career. | |  | Ahmad Ward at the HBCU Living Legends Award gala in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. HBCU Living Legends is a nonprofit organization that celebrates alumni who have made significant contributions and impacts both within and beyond their communities. Held every two years, the program includes a Gala event and a Living Legends calendar, through which distinguished alumni from North Carolina Historically Black Colleges and Universities are honored. The initiative raises scholarship funds for current students attending these institutions | | | Inside SEMC - Summer Edition | | |
The Summer 2025 edition of Inside SEMC is here!
Sincere thanks to everyone who contributed articles, updates, and inspiration — your work showcases the incredible strength and creativity of our museum community.
Explore stories from across our region and get excited for SEMC2025 in Montgomery!
You can also view Inside SEMC as a PDF: http://bit.ly/4lHG9mb
| | JOIN US FOR SEMC2025 : October 20-22, Montgomery, AL | | |
The Southeastern Museums Conference will hold its 2025 Annual Meeting October 20-22, 2025 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel in Montgomery, Alabama.
Montgomery is a city where history, culture, and creativity intertwine in unforgettable ways. As the birthplace of the modern Civil Rights Movement, it’s home to powerful landmarks like the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Rosa Parks Museum. But Montgomery isn’t just about the past. It is a vibrant, forward-looking city with a thriving arts scene, beautiful riverfront, and incredible Southern food. From live music and public art to walkable downtown streets filled with charm, Montgomery offers a warm welcome and a story around every corner!
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 community, networking, and professional growth this fall in Montgomery!
| | Montgomery Museum Highlight : The Legacy Museum | | The Legacy Museum and Sites in Montgomery, Alabama, explore the history and lasting impact of racial injustice in the United States. The Legacy Museum, built on the site of a former cotton warehouse, uses immersive exhibits, interactive media, and powerful storytelling to trace the journey from enslavement through Jim Crow to mass incarceration. Nearby, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice honors victims of racial terror lynchings with moving sculptural monuments. The Freedom Monument Sculpture Park spans 17 acres along the Alabama River, featuring major artworks and a memorial inscribed with the names of over 122,000 people emancipated after the Civil War. Together, these sites offer a profound space for education, reflection, and dialogue. | | |
Meet Bryan Stevenson — the visionary founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and the driving force behind the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. In this short video, he welcomes viewers to a deeply powerful journey through U.S. history—from enslavement to mass incarceration—crafted to educate, challenge, and inspire.
| | SEMC2025 Expo Hall - Reserve Your Space | | Industry Partners filled the SEMC2024 Expo Hall with energy and museum services. SEMC appreciates this effort to attend our Annual Meeting and looks forward to welcoming you to SEMC2025 in Montgomery! Expo space selection is open for companies interested in connecting with hundreds of museum professionals from across the southeast. | | | SEMC2025 Keynote Speaker: Important Update | | |
We want to inform our attendees of an important change to the SEMC 2025 Annual Meeting program. Due to her recent resignation from the Southern Poverty Law Center, Margaret Huang is unable to serve as our keynote speaker.
We are pleased to announce that Bryan Fair, the Thomas E. Skinner Professor of Law at The University of Alabama School of Law, will deliver the keynote address at SEMC 2025. Professor Fair is a distinguished scholar, educator, and advocate whose work focuses on constitutional law, civil rights, and racial justice. With over three decades of teaching and scholarship, Professor Fair has served on the faculty at The University of Alabama School of Law since 1991, shaping the minds and futures of generations of law students with a critical and courageous approach to justice, equality, and the Constitution. Professor Fair, former Board Chair of the Southern Poverty Law Center, is currently serving as interim President and CEO of SPLC.
His nationally recognized expertise in constitutional law and civil rights and willingness to step in and lead during challenging times promise to make this year’s keynote an engaging and thought-provoking highlight of our time together in Montgomery.
We look forward to welcoming you to an inspiring and impactful Annual Meeting this October.
"Professor Fair’s voice is one of bold intellect and unflinching advocacy."
- National HBCU Pre-Law Summit
| | | SEMC2025 - A Centennial Hill Celebration and Block Party | | |
Greetings, Members!
Fall is my favorite season. Cooler days (we’re ready, right?), football weekends, pumpkin spice everything…and of course, the highlight of the year: the SEMC Annual Meeting. Thanks to the dedication of our Program Committee, the vision of the 2025 Local Arrangements Committee, and the generosity of our meeting supporters, SEMC2025 promises to be a powerful gathering of learning, growth, and connection.
At its core, the Annual Meeting is about people and their connections to places. Montgomery, rich with history, art, and culture, has so much to share with us. This year, we’re thrilled to kick off our time together with a one-of-a-kind welcome: A Centennial Hill Celebration and Block Party hosted by the Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Sites Consortium (AAACRHS) in the historic Centennial Hill community from 1:30-4:00 PM on Sunday, October 19th.
What to Expect
Free and open to all attendees, the Centennial Hill Celebration invites you to step directly into Montgomery’s living history. Begin at the Dr. Richard Harris House (333 S. Jackson St.), then set out on foot through the historic Centennial Hill community. Along Jackson Street, you’ll encounter landmark sites brought to life by AAACRHS staff and guides eager to share the stories that shaped this legendary neighborhood and the city of Montgomery.
Getting There
Centennial Hill is 1.6 miles from the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel, the SEMC2025 host hotel. Although transportation won’t be provided, the walkable experience is well worth it once you arrive. Your conference badge will be your ticket to this event, so be sure to swing by the SEMC2025 registration area in the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel lobby starting at 1:00 pm on October 19th. Check in, grab your badge, and then head out for an afternoon of discovery and celebration. If you drive, a clearly marked parking area will be available next to the Ben Moore Hotel.
We can’t wait to see you there! It’s the perfect way to begin your Montgomery experience.
Have a great weekend!
Heather Nowak, SEMC Program Administrator
| | A few of the Centennial Hill experiences: | | | | This was the home of Dr. Richard Harris, Jr., and his wife, Vera. A registered pharmacist, he owned and operated Dean Drug Store, Montgomery’s oldest black drug store. Between May 20-24, 1961, Dr. Harris opened this home to a group of 33 students from Nashville, Tennessee, who were challenging interstate bus segregation. Known as the Freedom Riders, this group, including John Lewis, was brutally attacked upon arrival at the historic Montgomery Greyhound Bus station and harassed by rioters. This house provided a safe harbor as well as a strategic meeting place. | | | | | Be sure to stop by Tours of Montgomery, a beloved staple of the Centennial Hill community. Owned and operated by Valerie Smedley, this welcoming space is more than just a tourist and souvenir shop; it’s a hub of history and hospitality. In addition to leading inspiring Civil Rights tours and actively participating in community events, Ms. Smedley invites visitors to enjoy a cup of coffee while browsing shelves filled with books, keepsakes, and unique gifts honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, John Lewis, and other Civil Rights icons. | | | | | The Ben Moore Hotel was built in 1945 and opened its doors to African-Americans soon after. It would become the site of historic meetings between representatives of the black and white populations of Montgomery during the dawn of the Civil Rights era. The four-story Ben Moore Hotel offered food & lodging, a safe place for meetings, and a vibrant social life free from the bigotry and hostilities of the racism of the 1940s, ‘50s, and ’60s. Malden Brothers Barber Shop, formerly located on the first floor, serviced many in the neighborhood, including its most famous customer: the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was here he received one of his final haircuts. | | | Thank you SEMC 2025 Sponsors | | 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 | | |
Behind the Scenes of SEMC 2025
SEMC 2025 may still be two months away, but the planning wheels have been turning since the close of SEMC 2024!
While attendees will walk into a polished, ready-to-go conference, behind the scenes, it’s a mix of spreadsheets, site visits, sponsor support (THANK YOU!), registration conundrums, brainstorming, session situations, and a whole lot of controlled chaos.
For SEMC staff, every detail counts.
The session lineup? Hours of reviewing proposals and imagining what will spark conversations result in an amazing line-up of sessions and workshops that touch on almost every part of the museum field.
The receptions? The local arrangements team has worked overtime scoping out venues that will make you fall in love with Montgomery. Kudos and THANK YOU to all the organizations that are rolling out the red carpet and welcoming us with true southern hospitality.
The welcome tote bags? A mix of useful tools and local flair.
We also have some new surprises in store for SEMC2025! I don’t want to spill the beans, but be on the lookout for:
· a fun new networking opportunity
· a recharge and relaxation “Chill Zone”
· an interactive way to engage with the exhibitors that will have you shouting BINGO!
Conference planning has many moving parts, but at the heart of it is one big goal: creating a space where our museum community can connect, learn, and leave inspired.
By the time you arrive in Montgomery, whether by train, plane, or automobile, all the behind-the-scenes hustle will have come together for you to enjoy the conference, gain new skills, and discover new friends.
We can't wait to see you soon!
| |
Don’t forget to follow us on social media so you can stay in the know about all things SEMC!
Instagram
Facebook
X - @SEMC2
We appreciate your membership support and welcome your feedback.
Have a fantastic week,
Carla
Carla Phillips
Membership & Communications Manager
cphillips@semcdirect.net
Thank you for supporting SEMC through membership!
| | Upcoming Virtual Programs | | | | |
Take the Candy: Networking in the Museum Field
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
6:00PM EST
| |
The Launchpad Series in partnership with the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries (AAMG) is back this fall for a conversation about networking!
Join museum professionals from across the country for an engaging evening dedicated to strengthening your professional network within the museum field. Whether you are an emerging professional just beginning your journey, a mid-career staff member seeking new collaborations, or a seasoned leader wanting to expand your circle, this program offers valuable opportunities to connect.
This program is FREE for all to attend. However, registration is required.
| | | Thank you to Friesens for generous sponsorship of this program. | | |
Publishing Profits Museums
Thursday, September 25, 2025
11:00AM EST
| |
Museums are stewards of rich and meaningful collections and content that naturally lend themselves to publication. But how does a museum or historic site begin the journey of creating its own publications? This session offers a comprehensive look at the why and how of museum publishing through three key perspectives: a book printer, a publishing museum, and a book designer. Together, they will unpack both the rewards and challenges of producing books, catalogs, and magazines, while sharing practical insights into the publishing process.
This program is FREE for all to attend. However, registration is required.
| | | | | |
SEMC Virtual Happy Hour
Friday, September 26, 2025
5:00 PM
| |
Join your colleagues from around the region for SEMC's monthly virtual happy hour! Bring your drinks and stories from the week. SEMC happy hours are a great place to meet new people and have a few laughs.
Everyone is welcome!
| |
Meeting ID: 884 5684 9221
Passcode: 216675
| | | | | |
The Museum Summit presented by the American Alliance of Museums
October 15-16, 2025
| |
Ready to go deeper on the issues affecting your day-to-day? Join your peers from across the field and around the globe at AAM's virtual event, The Museum Summit, this October 15-16.
Over two days of insightful, actionable programming, you'll learn how to tackle the key challenges of:
Mission, Values, and the Politics of Pressure: How can we make principled decisions in the face of pressure to dilute our values or alter our programming?
The Next Era of Volunteerism: How can we address trends in volunteering and build more equitable, sustainable programs?
Register now to lock in a special early bird rate by September 12, and SEMC members can use the code MUSEUMSUMMIT10 for an extra 10% off the two-day registration.
| | | SEMC Ones to Watch spotlights museum talent making an impact across our region. | | |
This month, SEMC proudly features Ashlee Grenard as the One to Watch! Ashlee is a Museum Educator and Logistics Specialist at the Museum of History and Holocaust Education, a unit of the Museums, Archives and Rare Books Department at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Ashlee's nomination highlights her passion for networking and collaborating with peers at other organizations to expand and strengthen the programs at KSU.
"A couple of years ago, Ashlee started attending AAAM, and she used her connections and networking from that experience to help our team develop and then enhance our annual Civil Rights Educator Workshop (that we do in partnership with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights). It is a better program because of her.
She is one of the most positive people I’ve ever worked with, and I am so glad she is on my team. Ashlee is absolutely one to watch. "
Congratulations, Ashlee Grenard: One to Watch!
| |
Consider nominating an emerging or mid-career museum professional as a "one to watch" and help SEMC identify and recognize those who are enhancing the profession in a special way and working to make a difference in their community through work in a museum. Nominees do not have to be current SEMC members. In fact, we'll give non-members an individual membership in recognition of their great work!
| | |
SEMC is proud to announce the two recipient institutions of the 2025 Handumy Jean Tahan Museums Fund, which supports paid internships for emerging museum professionals across the Southeast.
Each institution will receive funding to host a paid intern in 2025/2026, creating meaningful opportunities for early-career individuals while strengthening the future of museum work.
This fund honors the legacy of Handumy Jean Tahan, whose passion for museums, access, education, and mentorship lives on through these impactful placements.
Please join us in congratulating this year’s recipients and thanking the Tahan/Ruddell families for their continued support of the museum community through this fund!
Congratulations!
| | The Oconee History Museum will host an intern who will take on a variety of projects, including cataloging all artifacts in the museum collection! This will be a practical, hands-on experience for a future museum professional. | | | The student intern at the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum will learn about multiple aspects of museum work, including collections care, curatorial techniques, visitor engagement, and accessibility, through working with the Museum’s permanent collection and the Bloomberg Connects app. This experience will give them a thorough overview of the many parts that must work together to make the museum wheels turn! | | | Thank You SEMC Lifetime Members | | |
In anticipation of SEMC’s 75th Anniversary in 2026, we invite you to consider upgrading to a Lifetime Membership. This one-time investment secures your place in SEMC’s future, honors its rich legacy, and is a meaningful way to demonstrate your enduring support for the Southeastern museum field at this landmark moment in our history.
SEMC Lifetime Members (as of 8.28.25)
George Bassi
Dr. Deborah Mack
Robin E. Reed
Michelle Schulte
Deborah Van Horn
| | We are also excited to introduce the Individual Two-Year Premium Level, offering members even more opportunities for involvement, resources, and professional development. Whether you’re ready to make a lifelong commitment or prefer a flexible two-year option, these new membership levels offer greater access and engagement with our ever-growing museum community. | | SEMC Corporate Member Spotlight: | |
|
This month, SEMC is excited to feature Muse Museum Management Software, a new corporate member!
Running a museum today means managing admissions, memberships, donations, retail, and events—often across clunky legacy systems or disconnected tools. Muse Software was built to change that. Muse is a modern operations platform designed exclusively for museums, cultural centers, and historic sites.
Built in collaboration with museum professionals nationwide, Muse unifies ticketing, CRM, fundraising, membership, event management, and point of sale into one intuitive, easy-to-use system—tailored specifically for non-technical museum staff. Unlike retrofitted software built for other industries, Muse was purpose-built from the ground up to solve the real-world operational challenges museums face daily. The result? Fewer workarounds, faster onboarding, and smarter workflows for your whole team. Whether you're handling timed entry, running a membership drive, or booking a venue rental, Muse helps you do it all—with less friction. Muse also improves the visitor experience, offers real-time insights, and delivers 360- degree donor visibility—all fully hosted and supported in the U.S.
We are excited to introduce Muse to the SEMC community and look forward to connecting at this year’s Annual Meeting in Montgomery. If you are rethinking your operations—or simply curious about what a modern museum platform can do—we would love to connect. Let’s build the future of museums together. Learn more or schedule a quick demo at www.musesoftware.ai, or reach out directly to Alex Cunha at alex@musesoftware.ai
Muse: The Modern Platform Built for Museums, by Museums
Thank you, Muse, for your membership with SEMC!
| | SEMC: Posts that made us stop scrolling and LOOK.... | | We love an event that combines history, foodways, and culture. YES South Carolina State Museum! | Ohhh fun! Spirited History at The Charlotte Museum of History. We see what you did there. Great partnership power, too! | | | Appreciation post for this exhibition on the art of shoes at the Hunter Museum of American Art. LOVE this! We may have a bit of a shoe shopping problem over here at SEMC.... | Amazing funding award from the Getty Foundation to the Amistad Research Center! How refreshing to see grants being awarded as opposed to taken away....... | | | SEMC IS THANKFUL FOR ALL NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS! | |
|
We greatly appreciate your support through membership and will continue to work hard in 2025 to provide training, connection, and resources to our southeastern museums' community.
THANK YOU!
| | | | SEMC: Around the Region..... | | SEMC staff have the opportunity to interact with members across the region 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! | | Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park Groundbreaking | |
|
This week, Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, broke ground for a new archaeological research facility and auditorium, a major milestone in preserving and sharing the powerful story of the first self-governed town of freed African Americans in the United States. This new space will allow the Park to expand educational programs, host community events, and provide an even more immersive experience for visitors who come to learn about Mitchelville’s legacy of resilience and self-determination and the powerful stories of its descendants. This is another step forward in preserving the heritage of the first self-governed town of formerly enslaved people in America!
Congratulations, Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park!
| | Thank you SEMC members for all you do for the museums in our region! | | |
Dear SEMC,
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend an opening at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art in Charleston, South Carolina, to celebrate two new exhibitions, Kenny Nguyen: The Divine Eye and
Raheleh Filsoofi: At the Edge of Arrival. Both are open through December 6, 2025, and both are spectacular. What was also incredibly inspirational was to see the results of the dedication and hard work of the Halseys' team of emerging museum professionals who have been steadfastly steering the organization through a time of great change over the last year while the Institute searched for a new director. This small staff worked tirelessly to ensure that exhibitions, programs, and community engagement never missed a beat. Their hard work, creativity, and commitment to excellence kept the Halsey thriving during a time of transition.
A big shout to SEMC members Kaylee Lass and Selynee Ancheta for your leadership and stability. The Halsey Institute now welcomes Michael Dickins as the next Director/Chief Curator, guiding the organization's exciting next chapter!
To all those who also find themselves leading through transition, we see you. Moving forward amidst uncertainty is no small feat, and what you are doing matters deeply. Your dedication keeps the mission alive. Thank you for showing that true leadership comes from teamwork, resilience, and a shared commitment to making museums thrive. SEMC appreciates you and will continue to celebrate and support your work.
To Kaylee and Selynne - you have done an amazing job being awesome for the Halsey this past year - keep it up! Congratulations!!!
Sincerely,
Zinnia Willits
Executive Director
zwillits@semcdirect.net
| | Kaylee Lass, Director of Exhibitions, and Selynne Ancheta, Director of Development in the phenomenal exhibition, Kenny Nguyen: The Divine Eye at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. | | | |
SOUTHEASTERN MUSEUMS CONFERENCE
P.O. Box 550746 | Atlanta, GA 30355
| |
| Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved. | | | | |
