“A Brand New Bag: Visualizing the Future of Museums” invites us to tee up new ideas and find our flow as we explore how our institutions are evolving through creativity, collaboration, and shared purpose.
Whether your work centers on art, science, history, nature, or interdisciplinary practice, we want to hear your stories. As we gather, we invite you to share your experiences in engaging communities, experimenting with new approaches, and re-imagining the work that matters most—within your institution and in your own professional journey. Together, we can compose a future for museums that is revitalizing, dynamic, and open to all.

Potential session topics requested by past GAM attendees:

●       Hands-on workshops and sessions

●       DIY exhibitions, low-tech exhibition design

●       Art museum related sessions

●       How to promote and engage the public for small museums

●       Strategic planning for museums

●       Successful educational models for school and public audiences

●       Membership

●       Creating and marketing successful programs for young adults

●       Preparing for demographic shifts in the field (retirements and new hires)

●       Board, director and staff relationships

●       Designing and building interactive exhibits for children

●       Tips and tricks for emergency training, CPR, etc.

●       Museum gift shops

●       Volunteer management, recruitment, accessibility (all ages)

●       How to avoid duplication of efforts and initiatives within larger organizations

●       Non-K-12 programming: 0-5 years, college students, adults, senior adults

●       Working with living artists

●       DEAI best practices

●       Collaboration ideas for small museums engaging with community members

●       Building partnerships with other museums and nonprofits

●       Exhibiting and programming around civic engagement

●       Marketing/PR

●       Negotiating salaries and benefits

●       EMP-related content

Presentation formats include:

Panel (75 minutes): Focus on a theme or issues that will engage audiences. The most successful panels include a range of perspectives and case studies with practical strategies that have broad applications to many different kinds of museums.

Roundtable (75 minutes): Short presentation by the chair and/or co-chairs, followed by a moderated discussion about a particular topic.

Workshop (120 minutes): Hands-on activities and practical solutions to specific challenges or issues that will engage audiences. The most successful workshops also include handouts. 

Please submit your proposal online by Monday, July 27 at 5pm: https://forms.gle/CQhMfE7ZREMiesv19

Questions? Looking for a Word version of the CFP? Contact Kris Allen, GAM Vice President and Program Committee Chair, at kristopher.allen@emory.edu. Thank you for helping to create another amazing GAM conference!