About Our Program
The Association of Midwest Museums welcomes members and colleagues to join us in the Quad Cities bistate region (Illinois and Iowa), for an interdisciplinary conference developed for professionals at any stage of their career.
We’ll kick off the event with a virtual day on Wednesday, July 23. Then, we’ll gather in-person at RiverCenter in downtown Davenport, Iowa, from Wednesday to Saturday, July 30-August 2 for sessions, networking, and museum exploration.
Call for Proposals
The 2025 Call for Proposals is now open. Submit your idea for a session, pre-conference workshop, poster or conversation station by 11:59 PM Eastern on Friday, January 24, 2025.
About the Theme
As the title suggests, the AMM 2025 Conference theme is a nod to how museums continue to navigate change in our broader culture and society. “Crosscurrents” are stretches of turbulent water created when one current flows into or across another. Our theme also acknowledges how waterways serve to connect and divide–not unlike how the mighty Mississippi River defines and shapes life in the Quad Cities.
These are turbulent times. Let’s strategize ways to navigate those crosscurrents together!
Join us in the Quad Cities to engage in discussion and debate around the intersecting and sometimes conflicting viewpoints that are shaping our landscape, informing our practices, and influencing our policies (whether we like it or not). Let’s unpack what it means for museums to be trusted spaces now and moving forward, and discuss strategies we are employing that center our missions and values in service to our communities to earn that trust.
We’ll draw inspiration from the amazing cultural organizations in the Quad Cities, whose efforts to build bridges across a geographical and political divide have been a success. We’ll learn about how museums, local nonprofits, and businesses are working collaboratively and creatively to address a variety of community needs—including food scarcity and a growing immigrant population—while also driving tourism to the region. Furthermore, we’ll discover that these collaborations were baked into each museum’s practices before it was cool, out of necessity.
Quad Cities museums and other cultural organizations are central to this thriving bi-state region, and together they are navigating the crosscurrents of their geopolitical dividing line.
Bring your perspective and experience to the conversation! We welcome proposals for sessions, workshops, posters, and conversation stations that focus on navigating the “crosscurrents” that are shaping the landscape for every aspect of museum operations, programs, and community initiatives. Proposals that touch on the theme are ideal but not required. All ideas are welcomed!
Program and Session Information
We are working on another amazing lineup of programs for you! If you are a Quad Cities-area museum or cultural organization and wish to participate in planning or as a host, please contact us today.