Each year, SEMC celebrates outstanding museum work by post-secondary students in the Southeast. Through the juried Spotlight on Student Work in Museums (S.W.I.M.) program, we recognize research, exhibitions, oral histories, web content, and public programs created by students working in museums across the region.

Who Can Apply?

Current students at any accredited college/university

Recent grads (within one year of the 2026 meeting)

Students involved in museum-based internships, practicums, or research in the SEMC region

Individuals and teams may apply. Group proposals must list all team members and designate a lead contact.

Note: Theoretical coursework is ineligible—projects must be museum-applied.



What Do Selected S.W.I.M. Participants Receive?

Successful projects are chosen by a jury. Those students then join the S.W.I.M. Team and present at the 2026 SEMC Annual Meeting (September 28-30 in Winston-Salem, NC) in two formats:

#1 Poster Session
Held during daily coffee breaks, this is a chance to share work informally through one-on-one discussions—ideal for visual projects or works-in-progress.

#2 Presentation Session
Each participant or group gives a 10-minute talk during a 50-minute panel, offering experience in professional conference presentation.

S.W.I.M. team members receive free Annual Meeting registration (limit: 2 free slots per group project). Evening receptions are included. Lunches, tours, and other special events are extra.


To participate in S.W.I.M., chosen students must attend the conference (at least one person per group project). For groups with more than two contributors, all are welcome to join by other means.


Benefits of Participating:
Free registration to SEMC’s Annual Meeting in Winston-Salem, NC!

While there, SWIM and SEMC provide:

A poster session.
A conference presentation.
Networking opportunities.
Professional development.

Application Details

Early-Bird Application: May 5, 2026

Final Application Deadline: August 28, 2026

Submit:

Contact info
A 300-word project description
One-page resume for each collaborator
Notification: Early September 2026


Questions?

Contact 2026 S.W.I.M. Co-Chairs:
Lana Burgess – lburgess@mailbox.sc.edu
Katy Malone – kmalon15@utk.edu