SCFM2026 – Call for Proposals

"Witness to History: Place, Storytelling & Collective Memory"

Greetings from Aiken, South Carolina [Card]. (1930).

The SCFM Annual Conference is a time where we can celebrate the impact that museums have made on the state of South Carolina. It’s a time where we can share our successes, learn from our challenges, and grow as museum professionals. We look forward to this year’s conference September 9-11, 2026 in Aiken, SC. This year’s theme is Witness to History: Place, Storytelling & Collective Memory.Museums stand as witnesses to history, holding stories that are deeply rooted in place and community. This theme explores how memory, storytelling, and lived experiences shape our collective identity, inviting us to reflect on the past while envisioning the future.

A great conference requires great sessions! We rely on you representing a variety of experiences, backgrounds and expertise to craft engaging, informative, and relevant sessions for our annual conference. We encourage a wide range of proposals from individuals at any career-level from any size and type of museum and cultural organization. We want to hear from you! Consider submitting a proposal today!

SESSION PROPOSALS ACCEPTED UNTIL Friday, May 1, 2026 11:59 PM.

CRAFTING A PROPOSAL

Session ideas can originate from a variety of inspirations — your experiences, questions you want to discuss, topics you’ve heard elsewhere, institutional achievements and current innovations. While you must be well-versed in your chosen topic, you do not have to be an expert to organize a session. Brainstorm with colleagues and reach out to NEW peers and partners to develop a clear path forward. The best sessions present varied perspectives that allow attendees to further their professional development, provide ideas translatable to their home institutions or that inspire change and growth. Be innovative and creative!

We look forward to hearing your ideas! Please complete the form below by no later than Friday, May 1, 2026 to be considered for this year’s conference program.

If you have any questions, please contact scfm@scmuseums.org.