Welcome to Columbia, South Carolina!

Where History, Culture, and Creativity Converge

Welcome to Columbia, South Carolina! Located in the heart of the Palmetto State, Columbia is a vibrant capital city where rich history, Southern hospitality, and a thriving creative community come together. Home to the University of South Carolina, a dynamic arts and cultural scene, and distinctive neighborhoods filled with character, Columbia offers an inspiring setting for SEMC2027.

Columbia's cultural landscape is as diverse as the communities that shape it. From the renowned Columbia Museum of Art and the South Carolina State Museum to historic sites, galleries, and cultural organizations preserving and sharing the region's complex history, the city offers countless opportunities to explore the stories, perspectives, and experiences that define the Southeast.

Beyond its museums, Columbia invites visitors to discover a city full of energy and unexpected experiences. Explore the lively Main Street District, enjoy the restaurants and galleries of the historic Vista, or discover the independent shops and local flavor of Five Points. With a growing culinary reputation, vibrant public art, and beautiful riverfront greenways, Columbia offers plenty to experience beyond the conference sessions.

At the convergence of three rivers and the intersection of tradition and innovation, Columbia is a fitting host for SEMC2027 and our theme, Cultures in Convergence: Museums, Communities, and Change.

Join us October 4–6, 2027, as we gather in South Carolina's capital city to connect, learn, and explore the communities and cultural institutions shaping our region's future.

Learn more about Columbia, SC!

About the 2027 Theme

Cultures in Convergence: Museums, Communities, and Change

Museums have always been places where people, histories, ideas, and experiences come together. Today, those points of connection feel both more important and more complex than ever.

Cultures in Convergence: Museums, Communities, and Change explores what happens when different perspectives, disciplines, generations, technologies, and communities intersect. It invites us to consider how museums can create meaningful spaces for dialogue and discovery while responding thoughtfully to the changing needs of the people and places we serve.

At SEMC2027, we will examine the opportunities and challenges that emerge at these intersections: how museums build and sustain relationships with their communities; how we navigate changing expectations and evolving technologies; how collaboration can strengthen our organizations; and how the convergence of different voices and experiences can shape more relevant, resilient, and connected museums.

As museum professionals from across the Southeast gather in Columbia, South Carolina, we invite our community to share ideas, learn from one another, and explore how museums can remain grounded in their missions while embracing the possibilities that come with change.

When cultures, communities, and ideas converge, new possibilities emerge.

Thank you for joining Us for SEMC2026 in Winston-salem, NC

With more than 700 museum professionals coming together for three days of sessions, tours, conversations, and celebrations, this year’s conference was truly one to remember. 

view THE Final CONFERENCE PROGRAM

*Enjoy these SEMC2026 memories

Conference Photos from Edin studios  

*If you download and share images, please give credit to Edin Studios