Call for proposals: 

spotlight on Student work in museums (swim)

The Southeastern Museums Conference invites poster submissions for the Student Work in Museums (SWIM) poster session at the 2022 Annual Meeting in Northwest Arkansas.

Submission Deadline: August 1, 2022

Submit A Poster Proposal 

Questions? Contact Session Chairpersons’ Lana Burgess (lburgess@mailbox.sc.edu) or Katy Malone (kmalon15@utk.edu)

What is the SWIM (STudent Work in Museums) Poster Session?

The SEMC SWIM poster sessions happen in 30 minute increments during daily coffee breaks at the annual meeting where presenters can share their projects with attendees in the form of a poster. It offers an alternative for presenters eager to share their work through one-on-one discussion, can be especially useful for works-in- progress, and may be a particularly appropriate format for presentations where visual or material evidence represents a central component of the project.

Purpose of the SWIM Poster Session

• To showcase projects and research by students or a group of students in museum studies programs or related academic programs who have conducted museum-based projects.
• To provide an opportunity for students to obtain new insights, share ideas and projects, and network with museum colleagues in an informal setting.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

• Undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent graduates within one year of degree completion may apply.  
• Students have participated in an internship, practicum, or integrated or experiential learning assignment or activity are encouraged to apply.
• Group proposals must include names, majors, and intended degrees of all group members, but designate one person as the primary session contact. 

When is the Poster Session?

The poster session will be held in the rotunda of the Rogers Convention Center during the afternoon iced tea and cookie break on Monday, October 24 from 2:15 to 2:45 pm, and during the morning coffee break on Tuesday, October 25 from 10:00 to 10:30 am. Set-up will start 30 minutes before the poster sessions begin.

How to Submit a Proposal

Please fill out the online form via the link below. Along with contact information and a brief (~300 word) explanation of your poster, we ask that you provide a one-page resume for each presenter. (proposals for SWIM 2023 will be accepted in spring 2023)

When is Your Proposal Due?

Poster proposals are due August 1, 2022. You will hear back about the status of your proposal by early September 2022. If accepted to the poster session, students will receive complementary conference registration. You will receive a special registration code with your acceptance letter. Accepted poster presenters must register for the conference by October 1. Evening events and receptions are included with your registration. Professional Network and Affinity lunches, the Annual SEMC Awards Luncheon, and any  pre-conference or post-conference tours are not included and must be paid for out-of-pocket when you register for the conference.

Why is the Poster Session Important?

Posters are an interactive and collegial format for displaying and discussing project-based work and for showing off visual and material approaches. We understand that most posters for this conference will represent work that is complete, but we encourage students and advisors to present work as part of multi-year or ongoing projects so they can solicit advice and resources at the conference. 

Important Guidelines for Poster Sumbissions

Students from Coastal Carolina University present a poster on their work on the exhibiton, Rough Seas and Legacies at SEMC2019 in Charleston, South Carolina 

SWIM is sponsored by AAMG and COMP