Call for Proposals (CFPs)

Call for Session Proposals

The 2026 MALHM Annual Conference & Meeting will take place in Mankato, MN from April 28-30, 2026. Sessions will be held on Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30. A call for poster proposals will be posted in late 2025.

Timeline

November 19, 2025: Session Proposals due

November/December 2025: Program Committee reviews proposals & meets to select proposals for inclusion in the MALHM2026 program

By December 19, 2025: MALHM Coordinator sends notification of Program Committee decision to all who submitted a proposal. Please note: accepted session presenters will be eligible for a registration discount.

By January 15, 2026: Full conference schedule posted (including dates & times for sessions)

How to Submit a Proposal

Submit your session proposals by filling out this Google form.

View the list of Session Ideas & Suggestions, including requests from MALHM2025 attendees.

Have an idea, but need a co-presenter? Check out the Session Brainstorming sheet!

Need a little guidance? Check out these tips to help you succeed!

Proposal Guidelines

Conference Audience

The MALHM Conference is designed for, but not limited to:

History museum volunteers
Paid staff
Board members
History/museum students

Topics in the conference schedule are expected to address a broad range of work typically found in small to mid-sized local history organizations (operating a museum, archive, historic site or house, etc.).

Session Formats

Activity / Demonstration (1 hr): Help attendees deepen their practice through a hands-on activity or demonstration. Presenters should focus on the "how-to" and provide attendees with tangible tools and outcomes. Generally includes a slide presentation with handouts and resources.

Lightning Talks & Meetups (~15 mins): A TED-style talk that presents an idea in a very concise manner. May also be used to begin conversation and assess interest in a topic or project.

Panel (1 hr): A group of three or more people present a case study around a common topic. A facilitator typically leads the panel. Generally includes a slide presentation with handouts and resources.

Roundtable (1 hr): Facilitation discussion allowing attendees to connect with colleagues. Participants and attendees will share challenges, successes, and new ideas while being inspired to learn more. Facilitators will be knowledgeable in a topic and prepared to lead and guide thoughtful discussion. The roundtable may ask participants to brainstorm in workgroups, collaborate on a project, or simply share stories.

Traditional Presentation (1 hr): Should include professional development, learning, and conversation. Attendees should leave inspired and encouraged to amplify the impact they have on their communities. Generally includes a slide presentation with handouts and resources.

NEW- Partner Requirements

All organizations (and their employees) who sell products and/or services to museums & history organizations may only propose partnered sessions— i.e. there must be at least one museum/local history partner listed as a session presenter.

Evaluation Process

Proposals will be evaluated by a Program Committee, composed of representatives from across the state. The Program Committee will review all session proposals to determine a session schedule for the conference.

Proposals will be compared to ensure a variety of topics are covered. Among those addressing similar topics, the strongest proposal will have the best chance for inclusion in the final schedule. The Program Committee may ask two competing proposals to consider merging into one session.

Stronger consideration is given to proposals that address a need as identified in formal surveys completed by MALHM or other industry associations. Proposals that are applicable to multiple types of local history organizations or address a larger industry trend will also be given greater preference.

Questions?

Check out our Session & Presenter FAQ! Still have questions? Please contact Liz Koele, Alliance Coordinator at liz@mnhistoryalliance.org

Call for Posters - NEW!

Deadline: February 12, 2025

Call for Posters PDF

MALHM is excited to announce its first-ever Poster Session during Pre-Conference events (Tuesday, April 22, 2025) at the Maplewood Area Historical Society!

A shorter, more informal alternative to full conference presentations, the Poster Session is perfect for visually-focused or in progress projects. Poster presenters can expect to share their work through one-on-one conversations with fellow attendees. This session format may also be useful for those seeking advice or feedback.

When is the Poster Session?

The Poster Session will be held during the Pre-Conference event on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 from approximately 11:45 AM-12:30 PM at the Maplewood Area Historical Society. Set-up will start roughly half an hour before the Poster Session formally begins.

Submission Process

Please fill out this Google form. In addition to contact information and a brief (~350 word) summary, you will also be asked to provide a rough visual mock-up of your poster.

Proposal Deadline

Poster proposals are due by February 12, 2025. You'll receive notification about your proposal by the end of February.

Evaluation

As this is the first year, poster proposals will be informally evaluated. If there is adequate space and the proposal is related to a relevant topic (museums, public history, etc.) with no major issues or errors, it will likely be accepted.

Questions?

Please email Alliance Coordinator Liz Koele at liz@mnhistoryalliance.org.

Guidelines for Posters

Dimensions

To keep things fair (and ensure we have enough space), please keep posters at 36" x 48" or smaller.

Materials

You can use materials like paper (laminated, poster paper, etc.) or cardboard. You're also welcome to use trifold boards, but please indicate you need table space in the "Equipment Needs" question on the Google form. MALHM will provide supportive cardboard and binder clips for those who request easels.

Design Tips

Pick a title to catch attention
Think like a mini-exhibit!
- Keep text brief and make sure it's large enough to be easily read from a distance
- Use images & design to illustrate your content and bring everything together
Print out text– don't hand letter
Caption/credit photos, especially those that don't belong to you

For more tips, check out this article from the Western Museum Association.

Presenting

Limit yourself to one or two presenters when submitting your proposal
Stand near or besides your poster and welcome those who come up to your work
Ask if they'd like you to walk them through it and give an introduction or "elevator pitch" of your poster's contents– this shouldn't be longer than a minute or two
Practice your "pitch" if you're nervous!
Be ready for questions and feedback– posters are usually meant to spark further conversations

Handouts

Handouts can be a great addition to your poster & presentation, even if it's just a business card or contact info for those who want to keep in touch!

Printing

When printing your poster or materials for it, make sure your text and images are large enough that they don't turn out fuzzy. If you're looking to print the entire poster, local printing services can help you out– Office Max, Staples, local shops, etc.

Room of people sitting at tables facing a screen and two presenters.

Photo courtesy of Greg Harp

A person standing next to a screen presenting to a room full of people

Photo courtesy of Dan Jones

Session Proposal FAQ

When will presenters be notified?

Each proposal submitter, regardless of the Program Committee's decision to accept or not accept a proposal, will be notified via email on or by December 11, 2024.

Is conference registration required for presenters and panelists?

If the presenter or panelist is only attending their session, then no registration is required.

If the presenter or panelist plans to attend other sessions or activities at the conference, then they will need to register for the conference. This is a great way to learn from and network with your peers!

What can and will be provided by MALHM in each session?

MALHM will provide a microphone, lectern, projector, screen, remote for slide progressions, and laptop (Windows operating system) for each session.

Presenters or panelists will be required to use the provided A/V and computer equipment in order to record the session, avoid any unforeseen problems or delays.

What do I need to provide as a presenter or panelist?

Bring your presentation on a flash drive (rather than downloading from Google Drive or Dropbox) and any other handouts or business cards for attendees. Also, consider bringing a printed version of your presentation in the event of any A/V problems.

Do I have to provide handouts for my session?

No, but attendees frequently request them. Digital copies will be made available to all conference attendees via Google Drive.

Does MALHM record sessions?

Yes, MALHM records each session. By submitting a proposal, you are granting MALHM permission to record your session. This allows us to provide educational material through our member resource library, as well as marketing material for future events and promotion. On the proposal form, there is an opt out option of having the session recorded. This is the only opportunity for a presenter to do so.

What happens if the focus/content of my session change or the panelists change between the submission date and the conference? Can I change that information?

A session description, session title, or list of presenters and their affiliations may be changed for inclusion on conference materials by Friday, March 28, 2025. Any changes should be sent to the Alliance Coordinator via email at liz@mnhistoryalliance.org

Session Ideas

General

DEIA training
Building local community partnerships
How to say no

Following the 2024 Conference, attendees were asked to share some of their most pressing training needs.

Here are some session ideas as you begin brainstorming:

Collections & Exhibits

How to do displays and simple exhibit fabrication
Implementing interactives
Accessioning basics (systems, policies, etc.)
Hands-on collection care & emergency training
Digitization basics & best practices

Education & Outreach

How to find and organize volunteers
Interpreting for different audiences (children, teenagers, adults, etc.)
Field trip development
Training with living history

Organizational Leadership & Development

Endowment how-to's
Fundraising techniques
Nonprofit management basics
Grant writing
Grant sources (especially outside MNHS)
Board engagement & retention
Bookkeeping
Obtaining (and retaining) new members

Social Media & Marketing

Museum software basics
Creating Powerpoints/presentations
Strategies for reaching younger audiences
Gift shop product ideas

Historic Preservation & Building Maintenance

Historic building management
Exterior restoration project examples (completed preferred)
Fire extinguisher training