“The Next 250” will explore the important roles museums of all disciplines play in our democracy, showcase the work of Connecticut museums around the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and contemplate the future of our field at this critical moment in our country. The conference will convene museum people from all disciplines to discuss the challenges facing museums at this moment, demonstrate the value of work that integrates the arts, humanities, and sciences through meaningful museum experiences, and make space for dialogue and creative action for our field.

We seek dynamic, engaging, and thought-provoking proposals that speak to our conference theme. These could address such topics as:

• The Many Meanings of America 250: How have museums of all disciplines approached the Semiquincentennial—and what have we learned in the process?
• Fostering Resilience for Organizations and Museum Workers: From funding and economic shifts, to the stressors of uncertainty, to shifts in volunteerism and board service, how can our organizations—and the people who keep them running—care for themselves into the future?
• Resisting Censorship: How do we maintain a clear and truthful voice when organizations are faced with pushback from the government, the media, donors or community members?
• Maintaining Public Trust: In a time of waning authority for traditional institutions, and outright attacks on organizations’ autonomy and professional practices, how can museums continue to be highly trusted?
• Creative Collaborations: What surprising or innovative interdisciplinary collaborations have strengthened your work or broadened your outreach?
• Leading in Times of Crisis: How are museums and their leaders reinventing themselves and their organizations in the midst of major cultural shifts? How has the 250th informed these efforts?
• Serving our Communities in Unstable Times: When each month seems to bring a new emergency, and our attention is focused on survival, how can our organizations meet community needs in new and creative ways?
• Emerging Technologies and the Future of Museums: From AI to imaging, how is your organization navigating the ethical use of new and transformative technologies?

Session Formats

We welcome a variety of session formats, including but not limited to:

• Workshops (a training-focused deep dive; participants will come away with a new skill)
• Panel Presentations (a series of presentations on a theme)
• Interactive Sessions (an immersive experience for the audience)
• Case Studies (a deep dive into how programs, projects, or exhibits were created, implemented, and evaluated)
• Roundtable Discussions (an interactive conversation with the audience)
• Lightning Talks (a series of short, 2-3 minute talks centered around a theme or idea, with ample time for conversation afterward)
• Think Tank or Working Group (presenters and audience work together to brainstorm ideas, discuss an issue, or address a common challenge)

Conference sessions are usually one hour. Successful sessions offer practical examples of projects and efforts that tackle real-world challenges, bring together presenters from more than one institution or community, and provide takeaways that participants can bring back to their own organizations. We aspire to provide information and inspiration on Monday that can be put into practice on Tuesday, as well as spark thought in the year ahead.

We are committed to broadening participation in the conference from across the field. We are especially seeking proposals from first-time attendees and presenters, art museums, and other organizations that have not been part of the League in the past. Limited scholarship opportunities will be available.

You don't have to be an expert to propose a session! We're particularly interested in your ideas for think tanks and discussion sessions on a subject you're interested in but may not know much about. If you've got some thoughts and are willing to moderate a conversation, suggest it! When you get a bunch of people in a room who are interested in a topic, good things emerge.