Mississippi Museums Association (MMA)

07/08/2026

CALL FOR SESSION PROPOSALS

Mississippi Museums Association 2026 Annual Conference

September 17–18, 2026 | Two Mississippi Museums | Jackson, Mississippi

The Mississippi Museums Association, Two Mississippi Museums, and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History invite museum professionals, volunteers, educators, librarians, students, professors, and cultural heritage practitioners to submit proposals for the 2026 Annual Conference.

We welcome sessions that share innovative ideas, practical strategies, lessons learned, and successful projects that support museums and cultural organizations.

Session Formats

All sessions are approximately 50 minutes and may be presented as:

Traditional Presentations
Panel Discussions
Roundtable Discussions
Suggested Topics

Topics may include but aren't limited to: collections management, education and programming, visitor engagement, marketing, fundraising, leadership, preservation, accessibility, community partnerships, volunteer engagement, technology and AI, archives, exhibitions, and emerging professional perspectives.

Proposal Requirements

Submit:

Session Title
Session Description
Presenter Name(s)
Presenter Biography/Biographies
Contact Information
Intended Audience
Audio/Visual Needs
Submission Deadline: July 10, 2026

Join us in Jackson to share ideas, build connections, and support the museum field across Mississippi.

06/11/2026

Join the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Museum on June 20 for the opening of "John Jennings: Build Your World" exhibition. It explores the extraordinary storytelling and world-building of John Jennings—Mississippi native, NYTimes bestselling graphic novelist, Harvard Fellow, and Hugo- and Eisner Award-winning artist. Learn more: https://www.msarts.org/visit/whats-inside/changing-exhibits/john-jennings-2026/

05/12/2026

04/28/2026

INTERESTED IN LEARNING THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF EXHIBIT INSTALLATIONS, check out this FREE one day workshop offered by our friends at the TWO MISSISIPPI MUSEUMS! To get more information and register, visit: https://www.semcdirect.net/2026-In-Person-Workshop

04/28/2026

🎨📦 Legacy in Action: Practical Exhibit Planning & Installation

Are you planning a new exhibit? Looking for guidance on artifact care, mount fabrication, or budgeting? This hands-on workshop is designed just for you!

🗓 Monday, June 15
⏰ 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM CST
📍 Two Mississippi Museums, Jackson, MS

Led by curatorial staff from the Mississippi Department of Archives & History, this session will walk you through the full exhibit process—from concept to installation—with practical tips you can put to work right away.

🤝 In partnership with SEMC

Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your exhibit planning skills and connect with fellow museum professionals!

👉 To get more information and register, interested parties can visit: https://www.semcdirect.net/2026-In-Person-Workshop

03/11/2026

The Killer The Preacher and The Cowboy:

One family. Three legends. Infinite influence.

Discover the incredible story of the three cousins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart, and Mickey Gilley in The Killer, The Preacher, and The Cowboy, now open at GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi. It’s a legacy of rock ‘n’ roll, gospel, and country you won’t want to miss.

🎟️ Plan your visit today: grammymuseumms.org

02/24/2026

🎸 80s Rock: The Wildest Decade in Music 🎸
Is your hair big enough to join the GRAMMY Museum Mississippi for 80s Rock: The Wildest Decade in Music?
Experience the bold sound, iconic style, and legendary artists that defined a generation of rock.
🎟️ Plan your visit today: grammymuseumms.org

02/12/2026

Share Ideas for 250 Programming: Join the free, online AASLH History Hour on February 24. You’ll hear how others are incorporating 250th content and AASLH's 250 themes into their programming. Then we will break into small groups to hear what our colleagues around the country are doing, brainstorm, and troubleshoot. While free, pre-registration is required. Register here: https://learn.aaslh.org/products/aaslh-history-hour-february-2026.

Make Your Presentations More Accessible: With nearly a quarter of the American population identifying as having a disability, planning for your presentation's accessibility is essential if you want to make sure that you reach the most people and have the highest impact. Learn the basics of accessible presentation design at this AASLH webinar on February 26. Register here: https://learn.aaslh.org/products/designing-accessible-online-and-in-person-presentations-live-webinar-2.

02/11/2026

Do you know the story of Fannie Lou Hamer? From the cotton fields of Mississippi to the national stage, she stood tall against injustice, declaring, 'I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired.' Learn about her incredible journey, her pivotal role in Freedom Summer, see her Presidential Medal of Freedom and more at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Plan your visit today and be inspired by a true American hero.

Family members say it is appropriate that civil right leader Fannie Lou Hamer's Medal of Freedom be displayed in Mississippi, where she worked for equality.

01/07/2026

Register for the first 2026 C2C Care Webinar!

Revisiting Basic Condition Reporting: Updated Insights and Digital Methods January 28 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET

This webinar revisits and updates the popular 2016 Connecting to Collections Care program on Basic Condition Reporting with the new edition of Basic Condition Reporting (2022) offering both refreshed guidance and new digital approaches for today's collections professionals.

Speakers
Heather Culligan, Registrar and Collections Manager, The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art at Florida Southern College
Tommie Rodgers, Registrar, Lauren Rogers Museum of Art
Katherine Steiner, Chief Registrar, Mint Museum

Register here: https://connectingtocollections.org/event/revisiting-basic-condition-reporting-updated-insights-and-digital-methods/