Small Museum Association

Small Museums Working Together

2020 Conference Information

36th Annual Small Museum Association Conference

Sunday, February 16 - Tuesday, February 18, 2020

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, "Honoring the 100th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage: Museums as Catalysts of Social Change."

Schedule

The preliminary schedule for the annual SMA conference is coming soon!

Registration

Registration is now open.

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

Visit the Registration page of our website for more information on the conference hotel and room block.

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. Visit the Resource Hall page for more information or to see our list of Sponsors and Vendors! Email Resource Hall Coordinator Kristen Butler at resourcehall@smallmuseum.org if you have any questions.

Scholarships and Awards

The applications for SMA 2019 scholarships and awards is now closed. Visit the Scholarships and Awards page for more details. Questions? Contact scholarships@smallmuseum.org.

Silent Auction

Be sure to visit and bid at the 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.