The Michigan Museums Association is pleased to recognize excellence and service in the Michigan museum community. Leadership, community engagement, advocacy and service to the Michigan museum community are acknowledged annually at an awards ceremony held in the spring.

The President’s Award is bestowed each year to one individual, company, or organization 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.

The MMA Board of Directors selects three Peninsulas Prize recipients after a public nomination process. One award is presented to an individual for leadership. A second award is presented to a museum for a community engagement project, program, or process. The final award is presented to an individual for advocacy.

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. 

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 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.

Nominations for Peninsulas Prize Awards are open through March 10 via this form. A copy of the questions can be found here.

Are you or your institution doing great work that is worthy of recognition? Self nominations are welcome and encouraged for this year's Peninsulas Prize!

Colleague Champion awards are also presented at the Annual Awards to individuals who have been nominated by a colleague for their efforts on a project or team, or for their service to their museum or community.

Nominations for the Colleague Champion Awards are open through April 15 via this form.

Click here to view a list of past award recipients.