Call for Proposals

Proposal Deadline: January 17, 2026

In 2026 help us celebrate America's 250th and Colorado's 150th in Olympic City USA!  Whether you are a seasoned professional or a newly minted graduate, join us in Colorado Springs, Colorado to sharpen your skills and learn from your colleagues and friends. The 2026 Conference is set for October 15-17, 2026. Consider lending your professional expertise by hosting a conference session or workshop. 

Our call for session and workshop proposals is open now through 17 January 2026. Are you doing something interesting or exciting at your institution? Or tackling a program that might be helpful to others? We’d love to hear about it!

Conference sessions are typically 75 minutes and can be hosted by individuals or small groups as lectures, panel discussions, roundtables, or something new. Workshops provide hands-on learning for three or six hour sessions. They can provide attendees with new tools and techniques or a refresher to re-hone skills. Sessions and workshops are tagged with a professional track. These tracks include collections, education/engagement, administration, small museums, and volunteer management.

So let’s gear up for Colorado Springs and start thinking about what you can bring to the conference. To get you started we’ve put together examples of what conference session and workshop look like. They are available below. We can also help you find co-presenters! Also don’t forget about the MPMA scholarship program if you need financial help coming to Bismarck. Scholarships are available for emerging and mid-career professionals.

When you’re ready, use the following form to submit your session or workshop proposal. And if you need help or have questions, please reach out. 

Very Respectfully,

John Woodward                                                     
Program Committee Chair                                   
Director, WYMD Museums                      
Casper, WY                                                            

Micah Huyser
Program Committee Co-Chair
Director, Nebraska Prairie Museum
Holdrege, NE

Leah Witherow
Program Committee Co-Chair
Curator of History
Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum
Colorado Springs, CO