About Our Program
The Association of Midwest Museums welcomes members and colleagues to join us in Chicago for an interdisciplinary conference developed for professionals at any stage of their career.
We’ll kick off the event with a virtual day on Wednesday, July 22. Then, we’ll gather in-person at the Marriott Marquis Chicago, from Sunday to Wednesday, July 26-29 for sessions, networking, and museum exploration.
We’ve started planning a robust, responsive program. Details will be announced in the coming months. Meanwhile, we encourage you to explore our 2025 Conference digital program to get a sense of the experience.
Call for Proposals
The 2026 Call for Proposals is open through Friday, January 23, 2026. We are seeking proposals for sessions, workshops, posters and conversation stations that:
- Unite and strengthen the museum collective
- Tap into our creativity and encourage collective problem-solving
- Offer insights, advice, and scalable solutions to address common challenges
- Encourage debate about practices or philosophies that could be holding us back
Proposals inspired by the theme are ideal but not required. All ideas are welcomed!
NEW! This year, we are also inviting museum professionals and consultants in our network to help us facilitate idea generation sessions and speed-sharing idea gathering sessions. If you have experience or expertise with any of the following topics, we encourage you to apply!
- Motivating visitors, members and followers to support your mission
- Volunteer engagement
- Cost-reducing strategies for programs, collections care, marketing, etc.
- Fundraising asks that inspired great generosity
- Ways museums are responding to attempts to censor or defund their work
Facilitators will have all the perks of a presenter (i.e. discounted registration rate) and collaborate with AMM on their assigned brainstorming or speed-sharing sessions.
Learn more about all of these presentation opportunities and how to apply in the Call for Proposals.
About the Theme – We Hold These Truths
As our nation celebrates 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this is an ideal moment to explore what it means to be trustworthy stewards of civil society, our collective histories, shared humanity, and the environment that sustains us.
- What “truths” are we holding steadfast in our work, and which ones are we challenging?
- In what ways do these “truths” represent our organizational values and influence our choices?
- How are we demonstrating that we have the public’s best interests at heart as keepers of “truths”?
The Chicago 2026 Conference, “We Hold These Truths,” will explore how museums are navigating historic and new pressures while providing an opportunity to build professional skills and participate in problem-solving to prevail over their obstacles.
Center—or challenge—your truths. Get creative. Dwell in the possibilities. Emerge stronger.