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ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The West Virginia Association of Museums’ annual meeting and conference will be held April 3-5, 2025, at the Doubletree by Hilton in Huntington, West Virginia. The theme of WVAM’s 2025 conference is “Museums as a Critical Community Asset.”
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
WVAM is now accepting proposals for papers, presentations, workshops, and poster sessions addressing our theme of “Museums as a Critical Community Asset.” Potential topics include (but are not limited to):
-How museums represent the local, state, and regional history of West Virginia
-What museums provide to their communities (i.e. community spaces, preserving identity and culture, educational opportunities, heritage tourism)
-How museums can connect to their communities (i.e. gaining volunteers, fundraising, outreach)
-How museums and cultural institutions can promote a vibrant local, state, and regional history
As always, WVAM is also accepting proposals for sessions that focus on interpretation, communication, diversity and inclusion, marketing/PR, fundraising, educational resources, constructing exhibits, and other public history topics. Please email us at museumsofwv@gmail.com if you have questions.
In addition, WVAM is now accepting proposals for poster presentations from students, AmeriCorps members, or institutions wanting to share research or projects. These posters can address our conference theme, but do not have to. Poster presentations can present any research or projects related to public history, museums, and similar institutions.
The deadline for submission of proposals extended to February 22, 2025.
Submit a session proposal here or mail in the proposal form
Submit a poster proposal here or mail in the proposal form.
REGISTRATION
HOTEL BLOCK
DoubleTree by Hilton Huntington
1001 3rd Ave, Huntington, WV 25701
Conference Rate: $129/night
Booking deadline: March 20
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Guests can call in to 304-525-1001 or 1-800-HILTONS and give the code 914 or they can say the group name West Virginia Association of Museums Annual Conference.
SCHOLARSHIPS
WVAM will offer a limited number of scholarships covering the cost of conference registration.
In exchange for a scholarship, each participant will be asked to volunteer at least 5 hours at the conference. Potential tasks include room monitor or recording sessions, helping with the registration table, assisting with the auction, setup/clean up, etc. In addition, each scholarship recipient will be required to prepare a short write-up (100-150 words) about their conference experience for our summer newsletter.
Applications are due February 28, 2025. Any questions, please email museumsofwv@gmail.com
Recipients will be notified by the scholarship selection committee by March 15.
*You or the organization you represent must be a member of WVAM to apply*
*If the scholarship recipient does not complete the volunteer & writing requirements, they may be required to pay back the cost of registration to WVAM*
APPLY HERE
SPONSORSHIPS
Sponsoring the annual conference funds the programming and logistics of the conference and allows WVAM to keep registration costs low for participants. Sponsorship levels begin at $100 and benefits include advertisement, free conference registrations, and vendor tables.
Become a 2025 Sponsor here
or
Mail in the sponsorship form
AWARD NOMINATIONS
WVAM is accepting nominations for our 2025 awards, to be presented at the Annual Conference in April 2025.
Institution of the Year: The winning institution will demonstrate exceptional creativity and proficiency - whether through innovative programming, new exhibits, community and staff support, or any project considered an outstanding model or best practice. The winner will receive a commemorative plaque and a $250 prize.
Submit a nomination for the Institution of the Year Award
Innovative Programming Award: The winner of this award will be an exhibit, project, or program that demonstrates exceptional creativity and innovation in design, interpretation, visitor engagement, and topic/theme.
Submit a nomination for the Innovative Programming Award
Museum Service Impact Award: The winner of this award will be an individual who has shown dedication to and made a significant impact in a museum or institution, or the statewide museum community.
Submit a nomination for the Museum Service Impact Award
The deadline for submitting a nomination is March 7th, 2025.
It is free to nominate an institution, and anyone may submit a nomination. The nominated institution/person does not need to be a member of WVAM in order to receive this award. The winner will be determined by vote of an impartial committee and will be judged on their merits within the context of their own institutional capacity.
Award winners will be announced at our conference banquet on the evening of Friday, April 4th.
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