Small Museum Association

Small Museums Working Together

2019 Conference Information

35th Annual Small Museum Association Conference

Sunday, February 17 - Tuesday, February 19, 2019

The Hotel at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland

About

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues. We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers.

Theme

This year, the SMA conference will explore the theme, "Agents of Change: Leadership in Small Museums."

Session Proposals

The 2019 Call for Proposals has now closed. Submission deadline for proposals was September 10, 2018.

Registration

Registration will open November 23, 2018. Please note that the hotel at The Hotel is currently open for room reservations. Please call to reserve your room at 1-844-954-6835 and mention the Small Museum Association conference to get the discounted rate. More information can be found on the Registration page.

Accessibility

The Small Museum Association is committed to holding events and programs that are open and welcoming to all. Please see SMA's Accessibility Statement for more details.

Location

The Small Museum Association Annual Conference will be held at:

The Hotel at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland

7777 Baltimore Ave

College Park, MD 20740

Phone: 301-918-5676

Register for your hotel room by calling 1-844-954-6835 and mentioning the Small Museum Association Conference. Further information on the Hotel, rates and conference registration can be found here.

What Other Attractions Are There in College Park?
View our compiled list of museums and historic sites nearby to check out before or after the conference!

Conference Layout
The conference takes place on the Conference Level (2nd floor) of the Hotel at the University of Maryland. Registration tables will be set up outside Salons A/B (Calvert Ballroom).

Restaurants, hotel bar and hotel check-in can be found on the Lobby Level.

Sponsors, Exhibitors, & Advertisers

The SMA Conference offers sponsorship opportunities, a robust Museum Resource Hall, and advertising opportunities in the Conference program.

Click here for additional information about the Resource Hall, sponsorships, and advertisements.

Email Resource Hall Coordinator Meagan Baco at resourcehall@smallmuseum.org if you have any questions.

Scholarships and Awards

The applications for SMA 2019 scholarships and awards are now open. The scholarship application must be postmarked by November 27, 2018. The deadline for award nominations is December 29, 2018. Visit the Scholarships and Awards page for more details. Questions? Contact scholarships@smallmuseum.org.

Silent Auction

SMA scholarships are supported by the silent auction that takes place at the Conference. Consider donating an item or experience yourself or from your museum to give fellow smaller museum-ers the chance to attend. Email auction@smallmuseum.org with your donation information.