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Every March, the SEMC Council gathers in the conference host city for a mid-year meeting. This in-person event is an important opportunity for the Council to focus on the strategic direction of SEMC, explore the host city (hello Winston-Salem, NC!), and strengthen our shared leadership and commitment to serving museums across the region.
A central focus of our time together will be checking in with the 2025-2027 Strategic Plan working groups. We’ll hear progress reports and continue advancing work related to our operational model, as well as revenue and membership, ensuring that SEMC remains sustainable, responsive, and member-centered in the years ahead.
We are also looking forward to connecting with the Winston-Salem Local Arrangements Committee to hear updates and plans for SEMC2026. Their early work has already laid the foundation for what promises to be a dynamic and engaging annual meeting this fall.
In addition, the Council will continue developing 75th Anniversary plans and discussing commemorative activities. This milestone offers a meaningful opportunity to celebrate SEMC’s legacy, honor the people and institutions that have shaped our organization, and invest in its future.
Most importantly, this gathering will allow the Council to reflect, strategize, and come together in leadership and community. We are grateful for the dedication of our Council members and look forward to sharing more updates as this important work moves forward.
| | Meet New SEMC Council Member: John Spann | | | | |
John Spann, Program and Outreach Officer for the Mississippi Humanities Council in Jackson, Mississippi, develops and oversees council-led programs that foster community engagement, elevate Mississippi’s history and strengthen humanities initiatives across the state.
With more than a decade of experience in public history and the humanities, he previously served as Curator of Education and Programming on the founding staff of the Two Mississippi Museums from 2017 to 2021.
A proud Mississippian, Spann serves on the executive board of the Rho Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. He also holds leadership and advisory roles with the ACLU of Mississippi, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Mississippi Historical Society, Mississippi Museum of Art, and the New Stage Theatre Board of Trustees.
SEMC is excited to welcome John Spann to the Council!
| | | Celebrate 75 Years of SEMC — and Compete for the Council Cup! | | |
SEMC is celebrating 75 years of service to museum professionals across the Southeast — and the race for the 2026 Council Cup is heating up! For two years running, North Carolina has claimed the Cup. Will they make it a three-peat, or is another state ready to rise? As of February 2026, Georgia is in the lead — with North Carolina right on its heels.
Even more exciting: All 75th Anniversary gifts designated for General Operations in FY2026 count toward your state’s Council Cup total!
The winning state will be determined by total contributions to General Operations made between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, with the Cup awarded at SEMC2026 in Winston-Salem, NC.
Your gift supports:
- Paid student internships
- Professional development programs
- SEMC communications
- Annual Meeting travel stipends
No gift is too small to make a difference — and every dollar helps your state climb the leaderboard.
Celebrate 75 years. Support your colleagues. Bring home the Cup.
| | SEMC2026 Program Committee - Activated! | | |
Greetings, Members!
Exciting progress is underway as we shape the 2026 Annual Meeting! Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your expertise and experience by submitting a proposal. Your engagement led to nearly 120 submissions, a record-breaking number for SEMC!
Proposals are now in the hands of our dedicated Program Committee, a group of museum professionals from across the region who are reviewing submissions in small group teams. Each session and workshop is being thoughtfully evaluated for alignment with our conference theme, suggested topics, and the evolving needs of our museum community.
The review process will culminate at our Mid-Year Meeting in Winston-Salem on March 12th, where the Committee will gather (in person and virtually!) to tour meeting spaces, discuss recommendations, and ultimately finalize the SEMC2026 program. By late March, session chairs will receive notification of the Committee’s decisions.
Thank you again to all who submitted proposals and to the 2026 Program Committee for their time, care, and commitment. SEMC2026 in Winston-Salem is already taking shape as a dynamic and engaging experience for our community.
Heather Nowak
SEMC Program Administrator
| | Meet the 2026 Program Committee Co-Chair: Sarah Graves | | | | |
Sarah Graves is an independent museum professional with nearly 15 years of experience working with communities and cultural institutions across the Southeast. She currently serves as Curator of Academic Learning and Engagement at the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she advances visitor-centered interpretation, staff development, and mission-and data-driven programming grounded in accessibility and community engagement.
Sarah holds a PhD in Museum Education and Visitor-Centered Exhibitions, an MA in Classical Civilizations and Museum Studies and a BS in Anthropology from Florida State University. She is a Museum Assessment Program Reviewer for the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), serves on the 2026 AAM Content Advisory Committee, has been a member of the Southeastern Museums Conference Program Committee (2022–2026), and is a longtime Council of Readers member for the College Art Association (CAA).
| | | 75 Years of Partnership and Progress | | |
SEMC’s Role in Shaping Regional Leaders
As the Southeastern Museums Conference marks its 75th anniversary, we celebrate leaders who shaped the museum (and archaeology!) profession across the Southeast. Hester Ashmead Davis (1930–2014), who served as SEMC President in the 1960s, exemplified that regional leadership.
Arkansas’s first State Archaeologist (1967–1999) and cofounder of the Arkansas Archeological Survey, Davis was a pioneer in public archaeology and cultural resource management. She championed partnerships between professionals and avocational archaeologists, creating programs that became national models for community engagement.
A longtime professor at the University of Arkansas, she mentored generations of museum and archaeology professionals, emphasizing ethics, stewardship, and public responsibility. Her Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southeastern Archaeological Conference and numerous other honors reflect a career dedicated to strengthening the field.
Davis’s legacy mirrors SEMC’s enduring mission: cultivating strong regional leaders and deepening the connection between cultural institutions and the communities they serve.
| | | Hester Ashmead Davis (1930–2014), an early President of SEMC. | | |
SEMC partners play a vital role in shaping a dynamic and impactful Annual Meeting. Sponsor SEMC2026 in Winston-Salem to connect with museum professionals across the Southeast, showcase your expertise, and show your commitment to the field.
We invite you to consider sponsoring the SEMC Annual Meeting to support learning, collaboration, and innovation in the museum community.
| SEMC sponsors enjoyed a special rooftop reception with museum directors from across the southeast hosted by the LSU Museum of Art at SEMC2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. | | Sticky Notes from the SEMC Membership Desk | | |
Small Shifts, Big Impact: Wellness Practices for Museum Professionals
Museum work is meaningful…and demanding. Between exhibition deadlines, budget realities, public programs, board meetings, collections care, and the emotional labor of community work, it’s easy to move from one urgent task to the next without pause.
The good news? Reducing stress and increasing focus doesn’t require a full schedule overhaul. Small, intentional practices woven into your day can make a measurable difference. Follow SEMC on social media and watch for our “Wellness Wednesdays” series to learn what wellness practices you can easily incorporate into your daily schedule to feel less stress, more energy and create a work environment where you can do your best work.Taking small steps to care for ourselves strengthens our ability to care for others.
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Wellness doesn’t require perfection. It starts with one small shift. We appreciate your membership support and welcome your feedback.
Have a fantastic weekend,
Carla Phillips
Membership & Communications Manager
cphillips@semcdirect.net
Thank you for supporting SEMC through membership!
| | SEMC Ones to Watch spotlights museum talent making an impact across our region. | | |
This month SEMC proudly features Audrey Creel, as the One to Watch! Audrey is an Education Associate at the Huntsville Museum of Art in Huntsville, Alabama.
Audrey's nomination letter highlights her passion for inclusive programming that creates meaningful experiences for the Museum's many visitors.
"Audrey Creel is an emerging museum leader whose creativity, empathy, and vision are reshaping how our institution serves its community. As the Huntsville Museum of Art’s Education Associate, Audrey plays a central role in designing and delivering programs that welcome every visitor, especially those who may not have traditionally seen the museum as a place for them. Her work reflects a deep commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and the belief that the museum should function as a people-centered cultural gathering space rather than an elitist environment.
Audrey continuously goes above and beyond in her support of museum education and new community initiatives. She oversees school tours, teacher engagement, and public programs with an attentiveness that ensures each participant feels valued and supported. Her thoughtfulness is matched by her ability to build meaningful relationships with community partners, educators, and families. These partnerships have broadened the museum’s reach, strengthened trust with historically underserved audiences, and fostered a more collaborative model of community engagement.
Her innovative thinking is perhaps most clearly seen in her original program series, Mindful Places, Open Spaces. We conceived this initiative to create an accessible, community-focused cultural center within the museum. It uses mindfulness, creative exploration, and emotional reflection to deepen visitors’ connections to art. Through layered programming, including hands-on making, guided reflection, and thematic discussions, Audrey invites visitors of all ages to explore meaning-making, purpose-finding, and personal expression in a welcoming environment. The result is a model of museum programming that is both restorative and inspiring, serving as a bridge between traditional art experiences and contemporary community needs.
Audrey’s leadership style is rooted in generosity, collaboration, and quiet determination. She approaches challenges with creativity and problem-solving insight, and she consistently seeks ways to elevate the visitor experience while supporting her colleagues. Her contributions are already transforming the culture of the Huntsville Museum of Art, imbuing it with greater empathy, openness, and responsiveness. Audrey Creel's exceptional promise, demonstrated impact, and unwavering dedication to inclusive museum practice make her “One to Watch.”
Congratulations, Audrey Creel: One to Watch!
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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!
Have questions? Contact Zinnia Willits at zwillits@semcdirect.net
| | Some Good News - Museum Advocacy Day 2026 | | |
It's always good news when SEMC Council, staff, and members from across the southeast can proudly participate in Museums Advocacy Day and join colleagues from across the country to champion the vital role museums play in education, economic development, and community well-being. Organized by the American Alliance of Museums, these days (February 23-24, 2026) of dedicated conversation with legislators help ensure that museums remain recognized as essential public resources worthy of sustained support.
Advocacy, however, is not limited to a single day. We encourage all SEMC members to build relationships with their local, state, and federal representatives throughout the year. Invite them to visit your institution, share the impact of your work, and communicate how public support strengthens your ability to serve your communities. Your voice is one of the most powerful tools we have to ensure a strong future for museums across the Southeast.
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SEMC Virtual Happy Hour
Friday, March 27, 2026
5:00PM EST (4:00PM CST)
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Join your colleagues from around the region for SEMC's monthly virtual happy hour! Bring your drinks and stories from the week....or just show up.
Meet new people! Have a drink and many laughs. Everyone is welcome!
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Meeting ID: 884 5684 9221
Passcode: 216675
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Doing More with Less: Creative Problem Solving & Funding Strategies
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Time: 12PM EST (11AM CST)
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This interactive virtual program invites participants to tackle real-world museum budgeting challenges together. Four professionals will present realistic scenarios—from budget cuts to staffing shortages—and attendees will collaborate to brainstorm creative funding strategies, partnerships, and practical solutions.
Participants will leave with actionable ideas and insights to help their institutions adapt and thrive.
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IFCPP 27th Annual Conference, Seminar & Exhibits
April 18–22, 2026, New Orleans, LA
The International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection (IFCPP) will host its 27th Annual Conference at the Higgins Hotel & Conference Center, with special programming at the National WWII Museum and other New Orleans cultural venues.
Designed for professionals protecting cultural institutions and collections, the conference includes peer-led education, focused exhibits, and a guided, immersive French Quarter Festival Emergency Field Trip that explores real-world event operations, crowd management, and public-safety coordination during a major festival weekend.
10% off registration for all Southeastern Museums Conference members! Just select the “Partner Registration” option and enter the following code at check-out: VIP2026
For questions, please contact Rob Layne, IFCPP Executive Director, at Rob@ifcpp.org
| | | SEMC Institutional Spotlight: Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum | | |
Located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, just across the harbor from Charleston, SEMC institutional member, Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is one of the nation’s premier maritime heritage sites. With WWII aircraft carrier USS Yorktown as the centerpiece, the Museum is also home to the destroyer USS Laffey, the Cold War Memorial, the Vietnam Experience, the Medal of Honor Museum, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
Through engaging exhibitions, Patriots Point brings military history to life with a strong emphasis on service, sacrifice, and leadership. The museum’s hands-on interpretation, large-scale artifacts, and harbor-front setting create powerful learning opportunities for visitors of all ages.
For the “ghost-hunters” out there, be sure to sign up for the tour that shares legends of bravery and patriotism beyond the grave. With the experts of Bull Dog Tours as your guide, hear legends of sacrifice and bravery as you learn about the well-documented stories of strange, startling sights and sounds that make this walking ghost tour one of the best in Charleston. Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is a must-see experience exploring remarkable machines up close and discovering the stories behind each cockpit.
For more information, visit their website, https://www.patriotspoint.org/
| | SEMC: Posts that made us stop scrolling and LOOK.... | | SEMC has a huge crush on all our friends at Museum Hue! We loved seeing this group of dynamic women advocating for New York museums during Museum Advocacy Day! | |  | Great use of social media to market the Atlanta University Collective's mailing list. Clever! Sign us up! | | | SEMC IS THANKFUL FOR ALL THE FEBRUARY 2026 NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS! | | |
Abraham Lincoln Library & Museum
Billy Graham Library
Birmingham Museum of Art
Breffle, Marcy
Brown, Alex
Cheekwood
Chickasaw Inkana Foundation
Collector Systems, LLC.
Cooper Carry
Currituck County Department of Travel & Tourism
dmdg2
Drayton Hall Preservation Trust
Doral Contemporary Art Museum
Evans, Meredith
Florence County Museum
Foster, Zacara
Gossett, Sabra
Gregg Museum of Art & Design, NC State University
Hall, Robin
Hendley, Brittany
Idol, CJ
International Arts Center
Kruckeberg, Vicky
Lambert, Lindsay
Linville, Abigail
Lowe, Katie
MacMahon, Darcie
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Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University
Miller, Mary
Morris Museum of Art
Mound House
Nold, Carl
Orange County Regional History Center
Pettyjohn, LeRoy
Portsmouth Museums
Reason, Akela
Reaves, Damon
Shepp, James
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
SmithGroup
South Carolina Civil Rights Museum
Southern University at New Orleans Museum of Art
The Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Arts, Science & History
The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA
The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts
Time Looper
Trimnal, Jonah
Watson-Brown Foundation, Inc.
Wonderlab Fabrication
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We greatly appreciate your support through membership and will continue to work hard in 2026 to provide training, connection, and resources to our southeastern museums' community.
THANK YOU!
| | | | 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! | | |
In honor of Black History Month, SEMC is spotlighting member organizations whose missions are rooted in preserving and interpreting Black history. These institutions are dedicated to shaping how these stories are told every day.
As the nation approaches America’s 250th, these organizations are helping define what the commemoration can and should be, grounding it in truth, community voice, scholarship, and lived experience. Through thoughtful programming, strategic funding, and meaningful partnerships, they are ensuring that Black history is not peripheral to the 250th but central to the American story itself.
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Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, located in Hilton Head, SC, stands as a defining landmark in American history and a cornerstone of America 250, honoring the nation’s first self-governed town of formerly enslaved people and its enduring legacy of freedom, democracy, and education.
In 2026, the Park’s theme, "America250: Mitchelville as a Landmark in American History," positions this powerful story at the center of the nation’s 250th commemoration. Long before freedom was fully realized across the country, the residents of Mitchelville were defining democracy for themselves, establishing laws, building schools, and creating a thriving, self-governed community.
With a bold Master Plan guiding its future, the Park continues to preserve and elevate this essential chapter of American history.
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Dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and celebrating African American history and culture in Arkansas, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, located in Little Rock, stands on the original site of the 1913 Mosaic Templars of America National Grand Temple. After the historic building was lost to fire in 2005, a new 35,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art museum opened in 2008, faithfully reconstructing the original façade while creating a dynamic space for exhibitions, classrooms, and community gatherings.
Since opening, the Mosaic Templar Cultural Center has served as a hub for education, cultural preservation, and engagement, celebrating the resilience, creativity, and contributions of African Americans across Arkansas. In 2020, it became the third Black history institution in the South to earn accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, positioning it among the nation’s leading cultural institutions.
As we approach America’s 250th, the Mosaic Templar Cultural Center is being intentional in ensuring its programming and funding resources are inclusive of the 250 — helping shape a fuller, more representative American story.
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Today, the Whitney Plantation is the only plantation museum in Louisiana dedicated to educating the public about the history and legacies of slavery in the United States.
Situated on a former sugar, rice, and indigo plantation, Whitney centers the lives of the enslaved people who labored there for more than two centuries. Through preserved slave cabins, memorials, exhibits, programming, and ongoing research, the museum confronts the realities of slavery and challenges the myths that have long shaped public memory.
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, Whitney Plantation reminds us that any honest telling of the American story must fully reckon with slavery and its enduring legacies, including racial wealth inequality, systems of forced labor that evolved into convict leasing and mass incarceration, and the continued struggle for voting rights and equal protection under the law.
| | | Want to learn more?? This May, SEMC will bring all three organizations together for a special virtual program exploring their approaches to America's 250th. Join us as we dive deeper into how they’re shaping meaningful, inclusive strategies, and what their work means for the future of museums beyond the 250th. | | |
Food brings people together, and Atlanta’s Black-owned restaurants offer powerful expressions of culture, resilience, and creativity.
As you explore the city, we hope you’ll take time to experience and support these remarkable establishments.
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New to SEMC?
Connect with other SEMC Emerging Museum Professionals and Mid-Career Museum Professionals on the following pages:
SEMC EMP Facebook Page
SEMC MID-CAREER Facebook Page
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Consider giving a colleague, emerging museum professional, student, or anyone who might benefit, a gift of a SEMC individual membership!
Contact Carla Phillips at cphillips@semcdirect.net
to set up your gift!
| | Thank you SEMC members for all you do for the museums in our region! | | One More Thing Before You Go.... | | |
Congratulations on making it to the end of this very long E-News! It's hard to stop adding content as museums and people across our region continue to do truly amazing things!
One more thing before you go....
Spring reminds us that renewal is always possible. Across our SEMC community, I see that same spirit of growth in new ideas, strengthened partnerships, and the meaningful work you do every day to serve your audiences. As we look ahead, I am filled with hope and gratitude for the creativity, resilience, and dedication that define our field.
Thank you for being part of this extraordinary professional family and for helping shape the future together.
With respect and admiration for all you do,
Zinnia Willits
SEMC Executive Director
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SOUTHEASTERN MUSEUMS CONFERENCE
P.O. Box 550746 | Atlanta, GA 30355
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