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Proposals must be submitted by a Current AAAM Member.
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Call for Proposals: 48th Annual AAAM Conference
Conference Theme: This Land Holds Our Stories: Celebrating America 250, and 100 Years of Negro History Week, We're Still Making America Whole.
Conference Dates: TBA
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hashtag: #AAAM2026
As we approach the 100th anniversary of Negro History Week—now recognized as Black History Month and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States—the Association of African American Museums (AAAM) invites proposals for the 2026 Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA. Our theme, "This Land Holds Our Stories," honors the legacy of Black storytelling, memory, and leadership in shaping a more just and complete American narrative.
Proposal Focus Areas
AAAM member institutions have long served as trusted pillars in their communities—interpreting history with integrity, standing at the forefront of social change, and uplifting voices too often ignored. The following focus areas reflect both our enduring mission and the critical conversations shaping the future of African American museums and cultural institutions:
1. Truth-Telling & Historical Reckoning
- Innovative interpretation of difficult histories
- Community-led exhibitions, oral history projects, and grassroots preservation
- Restorative practices and truth commissions within museum contexts
2. Democracy, Advocacy & Civic Engagement
- Programs advancing civic literacy and voter education
- Museum-based activism and public policy engagement
- The role of African American museums as frontline institutions safeguarding democratic ideals and ensuring the whole truth is told
3. Commemorative Practice & Collective Memory
- Designing meaningful commemorations (e.g., Negro History Week centennial, America 250, etc)
- Ritual, performance, and public memory as tools of cultural preservation
- Reclaiming histories erased, silenced, or underrepresented in traditional narratives
4. Sustainability & Institutional Resilience
- Crisis response, recovery, and future-proofing
- Financial strategies for small-to-midsize Black museums
- Innovations in earned income generation and philanthropic partnership
5. Black Futures & Afrofuturism in Museums
- Curatorial and interpretive practices imagining Black futures
- Youth activism, intergenerational leadership, and emerging voices
- Integrating technology, gaming, and digital storytelling into museum programming
6. Museum Ethics & Public Trust
- Transparency, accountability, and ethical standards in practice
- Community governance, participatory leadership, and shared authority
- Building and sustaining institutional trust across generations and stakeholder groups
Submission Guidelines
Proposals may include panels, workshops, and roundtable discussions. Please ensure that submissions align with the following criteria:
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Abstract: 300-word summary of the presentation topic, goals, and relevance to the theme.
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Format: Select one – Panel | Workshop | Roundtable | Poster Session
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Learning Outcomes: Clearly outline 2–3 participant takeaways.
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Engagement Strategies: Describe how your session will actively involve participants.
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Presenter Information: Names, titles, institutional affiliations, emails, phone numbers, and 100-word bios for all speakers.
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Panel Chair Contact Info: Name, Email, Phone
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Session Description (for public program): 150–200 words
Required for Submission:
- Panel chair Contact information- Name, Email and phone number.
- Session Description
- Connection to conference theme
- Target Audience
- Learner Outcomes
- Issues session addresses
- Panelist Full name, Title, Institution, Email, Phone
Session Topics Should Address Best Practices in One of the Following Tracks:
- Track 1: Audience Diversity (Relevance, Outreach, and Responsiveness)
- Track 2: Collections & Digitization (Archiving, Conservation, and Access)
- Track 3: Financial Stewardship (Resource Management & Advancement)
- Track 4: Leadership Development (Strategic Planning & Succession)
- Track 5: Organizational Development (Governance, Mission, Operations)
- Track 6: Visitor Experience (Education, Curation, Interpretation, Exhibits)
- Track 7: Advocacy (Buy-In, Funders, Policy Makers)
- Track 8: Marketing (Audience Engagement, Social Media)
We also encourage proposals that provide interactive, skills-based training workshops.
Additional Topics of Interest:
- Funding & Institutional Sustainability
- Board Training & Governance Models
- Staff Retention, Recruitment, and Wellness
Tips for Online Submission:
- Proposals must be submitted via the AAAM online submission portal
- Submitters must be current AAAM members
- Use your email and a self-selected password to log in
- Retain login credentials for edits and updates
- Complete all required fields
- Click "Register" to begin your session proposal
Important Dates
- Submission Deadline: February 10, 2026 (11:59 pm PST)
- Notification of Acceptance: May 4, 2026
Submit Your Proposal
We welcome submissions from museum professionals, historians, archivists, CFO’s, educators, and community leaders.
By submitting your proposal, you agree to AAAM's Code of Conduct. If AAAM needs to switch to a virtual environment, you are willing to present and agree to have your session recorded and used by AAAM at a later date.
For questions, please contact info@blackmuseums.org
Deadline for Session Proposals: February 10, 2026 (11:59 pm PST)
***PLEASE NOTE:
AAAM DOES NOT PAY TRAVELING EXPENSES OR AN HONORARIUM FOR PRESENTERS.
We look forward to your contributions to this powerful gathering!
