Call for Session & Workshop Proposals

Please submit by December 18, 2026

Oregon Museums Association (OMA) invites you to submit a proposal for activities at the 2027 Annual Conference in Ashland, April 18-20! We’re looking for proposals for sessions, pre-conference workshops, roundtables, and more. All ideas will be considered and all are encouraged to apply.

Details

This year we are hoping to organize the conference into the following five tracks:

- Board Governance & Leadership

- Financial resilience, Fundraising & Sustainability

- Shared Stewardship & Community

- Exhibits & Collections

- Programs & Visitor Experience

Sessions that fit into these tracks are highly encouraged, but your session does not HAVE to fit into one of these categories.

Please use this form to submit a proposal.

Scholarships

OMA provides limited scholarships to enable participation in the annual conference. Please check back for scholarship details.

What We're Looking For

• Projects, partnerships, programs and ideas from across the state.
• Representation of the diversity of museum work across disciplines and museum sizes.
• Energized presenters from a variety of backgrounds and years in the field
• Proposals from partners outside the museum field welcome.
• Presentations that include interactive components (like facilitated conversations, activities or other ways of involving participants).
• A variety of session topics

Program Details

Workshops

• Half-day (3 hours)
• Workshops should have clear learning outcomes and the workshop leader should have teaching experience.
• Registration of at least 6 people by April 9 is required for workshops to take place.
• The lead of the selected workshop will receive an honorarium after teaching the workshop.

Sessions

• 40 minutes or 75 minutes
• Possible sessions formats (maximum 4 panelist per session):
• Presentations - 1 to 4 presenters; with or without an accompanying standard slide show.
• Roundtables - small group discussion.
• Demonstrations - Demonstrate an activity or tool.
• Participatory - attendees are encouraged to be part of the session.
• Other - creative, innovative or other ideas for session formats are welcome.

All selected session presenters will be able to register for the conference with the early bird member rate.

Registration is highly encouraged. Conference registration is not required if the presenter is ONLY present for their session and does not attend any other conference content.

How to Submit a Proposal
To submit a proposal, fill out and submit the online Proposal Form by December 18, 2026. The form includes:

• Moderator or session lead name, affiliation and contact information.
• Presenter names and affiliations.
• Select the geographic regions that are represented by the moderator and/or presenters.
• Session title.
• Session type: session (75 mins), session (40 mins), or workshop (3 hrs)
• Description of session. If selected, the Description will be adapted for use in the conference program.
• • What will the session be about?
  • How will it be structured (presentation with Q&A, roundtables, small group activities, etc)?
• Briefly describe why the presenter(s) provide an important voice on the subject.

• Check which track(s) you envision your session fitting within:

  - Board Governance & Leadership

  - Financial resilience, Fundraising & Sustainability

  - Shared Stewardship & Community

  - Exhibits & Collections

  - Programs & Visitor Experience

  Your session does not HAVE to fit into one of these categories.

  
  
• Will there be audience participation? If so, please describe.
• What are the learning outcomes of the session/workshop? What will participants come away with?
• What equipment or other support is needed for the session or workshop (projector/screen, mics, etc.)?

Questions or need technical assistance? Have an idea and want some feedback? Email conference@oregonmuseums.org. We are here to support you in writing a strong proposal and submitting it successfully!