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Conference

October 1-3, 2012 in Salt Lake City. Meet with Museum Professionals from around the state.

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Conference Session Proposal

Submit Your Proposal
Deadline for proposals: May 31, 2012

The Utah Museums Association invites you to share YOUR ideas and expertise as we explore this year’s theme:

Celebrate Heritage | Strengthen Community 

Museums are places that connect us to our personal and community heritage, which positions them to strengthen our diverse communities.

We are looking for effective and organized presenters who are knowledgeable in their subject matter to submit session and workshop proposals that:

  • Present strategies and ideas for strengthening the future of Utah museums, their programs, collections, and communities. 
  • Investigate internal trends or external factors that affect the future of Utah museums.
  • Explore best practices and strategies that museums of all sizes can learn from.
  • Assist employees and volunteers in Utah museums to better perform their duties, organize engaging educational experiences, develop in their profession, protect their collections, obtain necessary resources and serve their communities. 
  • Represent the diversity of the museum field (geographical region, size, discipline and age of museums).

As you consider your proposal, please think about the enduring understandings that we would like our membership to deepen.

  • Museums are uniquely qualified to display and interpret topics and ideas that are important to our communities.
    Museum people are uniqely qualified to present information and ideas in ways that are educative and thought provoking.
    Museums are places where diverse people can interact with one another in ways that strengthen community and elucidate heritage.

Think creatively about how your proposal might contribute to conversations and work around some essential questions.

  • Why is it important to celebrate heritage and strengthen our communities?
    How can museums celebrate the heritage of a diverse community?
    What is a museum's role in strengthening its community?
    What roles do Operations, Education and Programming, and Collections and Exhibitions play in celebrating heritage and strengthening community? *Think about what YOU do and how it supports the mission and activities in your institution.

Conference sessions will be divided into three tracks:
Museum Operations (fundraising, marketing, board management, advocacy, etc.)
Education & Programming
Collections & Exhibitions

Program Formats:
Please select the format listed below that best fits your topic and desired outcomes. If you have an idea for another format, we encourage you to propose it.

Panel (75 or 90 minutes): A panel has a maximum of four speakers, often with contrasting perspectives, institutions or
experiences. The moderator briefly introduces the topic and the presenters formally address it in some detail. The moderator may also serve as one of the presenters. The session concludes with a general question and answer period.

Dialogue (60 minutes): A dialogue uses a moderator and at least one presenter. Unlike a panel, a dialogue devotes almost the entire session to a lengthy and facilitated discussion with the audience on a specific topic. The moderator and/or presenter(s) are limited brief remarks at the beginning and closing remarks at the end.

Workshop (75 to 90 minutes): A workshop is a hands-on, participatory-style session.

Due to limits in space and time, submittal of a proposal does not guarantee that your presentation will be chosen for the conference. The Program Committee reserves the right to decline or recommend modifications to proposals in the interest of the conference and attendees. The more developed and clear the proposal, the more effectively the Program Committee will be able to understand and evaluate it.

This is your opportunity to have an impact on the future of Utah museums, and to:

  • Delve deeply into issues or trends and explore real and scalable solutions.
  • Actively engage and involve the program participants.
  • Network with a diverse group of museum professionals from across the state for a stimulating and enjoyable exchange of ideas, perspectives and resources.

Submit Your Proposal