SEMC Student Work in Museums (S.W.I.M)

Postsecondary students throughout our region are engaged in challenging and important work in southeastern museums. They are doing research, producing exhibits, conducting oral history interviews, creating content for websites, and developing public programs. SEMC is committed to recognizing and rewarding excellence in museum work done by students through the annual, juried Spotlight on Student Work in Museums program.

What do SWIM team members get once they are chosen?

Once chosen, members of the SWIM Team present their work during the SEMC’s 2024 Annual Meeting in two formats:

• Poster Sessions: During daily coffee breaks at the annual meeting, presenters share their projects with attendees in the form of a poster. SWIM participants can share their work through one-on-one discussion, can be especially useful for works-in- progress, and may be a particularly appropriate format for presentations where visual or material evidence represents a central component of the project.

• Presentation Session: SWIM participants will show their work in a presentation session. Each participant or group will give a short presentation during the same 50-minute block. The duration of each presentation will be about 10 minutes, though this depends on the number of projects. Here, the SWIM team gets the chance to have experience with presenting at a professional conference for future colleagues. Note that at the discretion of the co-chairs, presenters may be limited based upon the number of successful projects. All SWIM Team Members take part in the Poster Session.

These varied formats along with Annual Meeting attendance allow participants with the chance to:

• Showcase projects and research professionally.
• Obtain new insights, share ideas and projects, and network with museum colleagues in an informal setting.
• Learn about emerging trends and gain professional development.

SWIM Team Members are provided free registration to the Annual Meeting. At least one team member must be present at the Annual Meeting to take advantage of SWIM and receive the award. Note that collaborative teams are limited to two registration slots, though all members will receive credit, and all are welcome to participate if they join the meeting through other means.

Evening events and receptions are included with the registration. Professional Network and Affinity lunches, the Annual SEMC Awards Luncheon, and any pre-conference or post-conference tours are not included and must be paid for out-of-pocket when you register for the conference. Accepted SWIM Team Members must register for the conference by October 1.

Who is Eligible to Apply?
• Currently enrolled higher-learning students at any accredited college, university, or other postsecondary school.
• Recent graduates whose graduation date is within one year of the 2024 Annual Meeting.
• Higher-learning students who participated in an applied internship, practicum, integrated program, experiential learning assignment, research endeavor, or activity at a museum in the SEMC region.
• Note that hypothetical coursework or theoretical research is not eligible. Projects must be applied to or conducted within a museum setting.
• Both individuals and collaborative teams are welcome.

Group proposals must include names, majors, and intended degrees of all group members, but designate one person as the primary session contact.

When is the Poster Session and Presentation?

The poster sessions will take place during SEMC’s annual meeting in Baton Rouge, LA, October 21-23, 2024. Specific details will follow.

Be prepared to submit:

• Contact information.
• A brief (maximum 300 word) explanation of your project.
• A one-page resume for each collaborator.

Applications are due August 30, 2024. You will hear back about the status of your proposal by early September 2024.

Questions? Contact 2024 S.W.I.M Session Chairpersons’ Lana Burgess (lburgess@mailbox.sc.edu) or Katy Malone (kmalon15@utk.edu)