CALL FOR PROPOSALS 

ANSM Annual Conference
October 1 – 2, 2026
Stellarton, NS

The Association of Nova Scotia Museums (ANSM) is inviting proposals for presentations, panels, and activities for our annual conference at the Museum of Industry in Stellarton from October 1 – 2, 2026. This conference will also celebrate ANSM’s 50th anniversary. All sessions will be held in-person.
The theme of this conference is CAKE: A Recipe for the Future of Museums, where:
C = Community
A = Access
K = Knowledge-sharing
E = Engagement
Our goal is to create an atmosphere of joy for the museum sector of Nova Scotia by incorporating ANSM’s Cake Policy into the theme of this conference.
Proposals are invited for a variety of types of sessions, including presentations (20 – 45 minutes), panels (60 – 90 minutes), and/or hands-on workshops/activities (60 – 90 minutes). Topics may include, but are not limited to:
Inclusivity and relationship-building with communities
Preserving and sharing community stories and perspectives
Promoting safe and healthy communities at museums
Addressing accessibility – physical, intellectual, digital
Off-site and outdoor programming and services
Succession planning and staff/volunteer recruitment and resilience
Engaging youth/young adults and school groups
Sponsorship recruitment and engagement
To submit a proposal, please include the name(s) of the presenter(s)/panelists and their contact information, plus:
A brief description of your presentation/panel/activity
Proposed length of your presentation/panel/activity, including question period
Brief speaker bio(s)
Any accessibility requirements or adaptations needed

Send proposals to: services@ansm.ns.ca
Submission deadline: Friday, July 10, 2026