Michigan Museums Association

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2026 Michigan Museums Association Awards

Michigan museum professionals, volunteers, and supporters will gather at the Michigan Science Center on May 14 to present the 2026 member awards. At the awards celebration, MMA members and advocates will be recognized for special service to their communities and others in four different award categories.

President's Award

The President’s Award is bestowed annually to individuals, companies, or organizations by the current MMA Board President. The award recognizes exemplary support of MMA, service to the Michigan museums field, a career of distinction or for any other criteria deemed appropriate by the MMA Board President.

This year, MMA Board President Dominick Miller has selected Dale Robertson, President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Public Museum, for the award in recognition of his distinguished career and transformative impact at the museum.

Peninsulas Prize: Leadership

The Peninsulas Prize for Leadership is selected to acknowledge an individual's service to the Michigan museum community over the course of their career or in a specific circumstance. Leadership is defined broadly and can apply to anyone in an organization, not just those at an executive level.

Taylor Chisomo, Wayne County History Project Coordinator/Curator at the Detroit Historical Society, will be presented with this year's leadership award for her work to preserve the memories and stories of Black Detroiters and residents of Wayne county more broadly.

Peninsulas Prize: Community Engagement

Peninsulas Prize: Advocacy

The Peninsulas Prize for Community Engagement is selected to acknowledge a project, program, or process that creates or sustains a sense of inclusion, justice, and/or belonging with under-represented participants/groups.

The 2026 award recipient is the the Jim Crow Museum at Ferris State University in celebration of their facility designed to expand its capacity for teaching and learning about race, with the goal of inspiring understanding, healing, and positive social change.

The Peninsulas Prize for Advocacy is selected to acknowledge outstanding efforts by an individual in championing the value and importance of Michigan museums over the course of their career or in a specific circumstance. This award celebrates an individual's impactful advocacy efforts that raised awareness, influenced policy, or fostered public and governmental support for Michigan museums.

Jen Peters, Executive Director at Troy Historic Village, is receiving this year's award to recognize her relentless commitment to ensuring the reinstatement of the LEO Grant funding which was awarded in 2025 but eliminated in 2026.

Click here to view a list of past award recipients.

2026 Awards Partners

The Michigan Museums Association is supported in part by an award from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

313-334-7643

P.O. Box 5246

Cheboygan, MI 49721