Call for proposals: 

spotlight on Student work in museums (swim)

University students throughout our region are engaged in challenging and important work in southeastern museums. They are doing research, producing exhibits, conducting oral history interviews, creating content for websites, and developing public programs. SEMC is committed to recognizing and rewarding excellence in museum work done by students through the annual Spotlight on Student Work in Museums (SWIM) Awards.

Students may submit proposals to participate in a SWIM Showcase at the October 2022 SEMC Annual Meeting (final date/time TBC) which will be held in Northwest Arkansas in Chattanooga, Tennessee. There is no fee to submit a proposal to the 2022 S.W.I.M competition.

The SWIM Showcase will highlight chosen projects and research by students in museum studies programs or related academic programs who have conducted museum-based projects. This session will provide an opportunity for students to obtain new insights from the work of their peers, share ideas and projects with the SEMC museum professional community, and network with museum colleagues after the session.

Students selected to share their projects in the Showcase (which will be accessible by all conference attendees) will receive a certificate in recognition of their achievement. 

Questions? Contact Pam Meister, pameister@email.wcu.edu, 828-227-3192 (office), 404-374-2365 (mobile) or Patricia Hobbs, phobbs@wlu.edu, 540-458-4321 (office), 540-461-1340 (mobile).

Criteria for SWIM proposals:

• The proposal must present work done by a student or group of students for a southeastern museum as part of an internship, employment (paid or unpaid), or class project.

•  Your project will be presented in real-time via the Zoom Meetings platform.  It must be between 5 – 7 minutes long, and may include graphics, photographs, and videos that illustrate your work.  Groups must adhere to the same time 5-7 minute time limit for their total presentation.

• Candidates or recent graduates of a bachelor’s, master’s or Ph.D. program are eligible to submit proposals; the SWIM committee will jury undergraduate and graduate proposals separately.

• Group proposals must include names, majors, and intended degrees of all group members, but designate one person as the primary session contact.

• Support materials may include documents, photographs, and links to websites that feature your work products.

• Those chosen to present in the virtual showcase do not need to pay a registration fee to present. However, if a presenter wishes to attend other sessions (virtual or in-person), there will be a reduced registration rate for students. All presenters are responsible for their own Annual Meeting registration fees and travel costs. Students are encouraged to apply for SEMC scholarships which will be available soon..

SWIM is sponsored by AAMG and COMPT