Call for Speakers

MuseumNext is a global conference series on the future of museums, taking place in the world’s cultural capitals and online since 2009. The conference is a catalyst for innovation, transformation and collaboration in museums, galleries and heritage sites.

Each MuseumNext conference has a theme, around which our community comes together to discuss the future of museums.

For 2024 this theme is inspired by the wish to celebrate those people, ideas and technologies that are changing the landscape of the sector.

Theme – Museum Gamechangers

We invite opinions, expertise, case studies, discussions and workshops around the points below:

Leaders and cultural entrepreneurs – shaking up the museum sector, pushing boundaries and ensuring the future success and relevance of museums, galleries, science centres and cultural organisations in which they work.

Technology – the use of cutting edge technology in the areas of, interactive campaigns, wearables, virtual reality, augmented reality, gadgets, platforms, games and more in the museum space to engage, nurture and connect.

Practice – Innovative work with communities and schools, social engagement with diverse groups, environmental sustainability, decolonisation, raising the significance of the museum in daily lives, connecting and succeeding.

Partnerships – Working together across organisations; in conjunction with individuals, groups, regionally, nationally and internationally, sharing resources, goals and people.

Audiences – elevating engagement, widening attendance, sharing a connection with each visitor through personalisation, content and programming.

If you feel that you have something to contribute on this theme, we invite you to make a proposal to speak at our conference. MuseumNext follows a fast paced format of twenty-minute presentations with the focus very much on practice rather than theory.

For presentations we would expect each talk to feature someone working in a museum. Those working outside museums are welcome to put forward talks, however we are not looking for presentations which are promotional in nature.

In addition to 20 minute presentations, we are also inviting proposals for 2 hour workshops.

Proposals must contain the following information:

– The title of your presentation or workshop
– Name or names and contact details of those presenting
– Organisation(s)
– Summary of your presentation or workshop (no more than 500 words)
– Relevant links
– What you expect delegates to learn from your session

Proposals can be submitted through this form. A peer panel will select the programme for the conference.

Deadline
The deadline for submission is January 31st 2024.

Please note
– One person from each presentation or workshop will receive a free ticket. Speakers are responsible for their own travel costs and will receive no payment.