EmailMe Form - 2026 SEMC Exhibition Competition Entry Form

2026 SEMC Exhibition Competition Entry Form

Entry Rules:
a) The exhibition must have been open to the public at the host institution or online via the institution's website during fiscal year July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026.
b) Exhibitions eligible to enter in more than one fiscal year may enter only once.
c) Consultants may not submit applications on behalf of the host museum.
d) Entries are limited to two per institution and are non-returnable.
e) Email support materials to the competition chair at the address below.
f) SEMC competitions are for SEMC members only. The submitter (or submitter's institution or business) must be a current SEMC member.
g) Deadline for submissions is a postmark deadline of June 12, 2026.

There is a one-time $45 entry fee for the 2026 Exhibition competition.

Entry Requirements: PLEASE COMPLETE THE ONLINE SUBMISSION FORM BELOW. Once completed and submitted, you will receive a submission confirmation email with the details of your entry.

Judges: A panel of judges representing regional museums from SEMC’s constituents will be selected for the 2026 Exhibition Competition.

Notifications: Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards will be presented for outstanding exhibitions in the following budget and categories:
Under $10,000
Under $25,000
Over $25,000
Over $100,000
Over $1,000,000
Digital Exhibitions (all budget sizes)

Winners will be notified in late summer 2026, with Gold Award winners recognized at the Awards Luncheon (September 30, 2026) at the 2026 SEMC Annual Meeting (September 28-30, 2-26) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

All winners will be recognized in the Winter 2027 edition of Inside SEMC. Questions?: Contact, SEMC Exhibition Competition Chair, Chase Tomlin, chase.tomlin@nationalww2museum.org; or Zinnia Willits, SEMC Executive Director, 404-814-2048, zwillits@semcdirect.net

Institutional Information
Institution Name *
Address *

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region Postal / Zip Code Country / Region
Contact Person *
Prefix First Last Suffix
Title
Phone Number *
### - ### - ####
Email *

Confirm
Exhibition Information
Exhibition Title *
Permanent or Temporary *
Permanent
Temporary
Exhibition Opening Date *
MM / DD / YYYY
Exhibition Closing Date *
MM / DD / YYYY
Category REQUIRED
Funding should reflect actual exhibition costs, including, but not limited to, gallery supplies/fixtures, honorariums, shipping/crating, loan fees, education/programming fees, interpretative materials, contract support staff, etc. Do not calculate the costs of full-time staff, operating expenses, or marketing/advertising expenditures into the overall exhibition cost.
Exhibition Synopsis *
LIMIT 150 words
How does this exhibition align with and fulfill the museum’s mission? *
LIMIT 150 words
Outside of this exhibition, how does the institution facilitate public trust and accountability through inclusion, diverse participation, education, and physical and intellectual access? *
LIMIT 150 words
Describe how the institution addressed audience awareness (defining its target audience, developing the exhibition in accordance with the needs of this audience, and involving its community) during the exhibition process. *
LIMIT 150 words
Describe the impact of the exhibition (including evaluation measures). Anecdotal evidence is helpful, but please offer concrete examples. *
LIMIT 150 Words
How did the institution ensure the credibility and relevance of exhibition content? *
LIMIT 150 words
Describe the selection process and presentation of objects in the exhibition, clarifying how they were pertinent to the exhibition’s overall thesis and/or success. *
LIMIT 150 Words
Describe the exhibition's interpretation methodology. *
LIMIT 150 words
Describe the design and fabrication of the exhibition and any contracted work. *
LIMIT 150 words
How did the institution promote access to the exhibition to a wide range of visitors of different backgrounds and abilities? This includes expanding access in terms of DEAI. For inclusion/accessibility, please focus on only measures beyond the legal requirements of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. *
LIMIT 150 words
Describe educational programming associated with the exhibition and the ways this programming addressed a diversity of age ranges and learning styles. *
LIMIT 150 words
How is the exhibition innovative? *
LIMIT 150 words
How does the exhibition contribute to scholarship and /or present new perspectives?
LIMIT 150 words
Please submit up to two files containing information that will help the jurors conceptualize the exhibition. You are as welcome to submit individual photographs as you may submit multi-page PDF documents (maximum file size: 20mb).

Examples of helpful documentation include:
• Photographs of the exhibition (maximum of 20 requested), with or without a keyed plan

• Digital copies of brochures, gallery guides, or similar publications

• Copies of or links to media coverage and reviews (newspaper, magazine, journal, social media)

• Links to digital walkthroughs. NB: please ensure that these links remain static and accessible at least through September 2026

Support Document File Upload (hard copy not required)
maximum file size: 20mb
Support Document File Upload (hard copy not required)
maximum file size: 20mb
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Institutional Information

Exhibition Information