Michigan Museums Association - Potential Conference Venues

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The 2026 MMA Annual Conference is already planned, but we’re looking ahead to future locations and we need your help! Do you know a facility in your community that could host MMA's annual conference? Please review the conference venue requirements below and submit your recommendations using this form. Your input helps us find the best spaces for engaging, accessible, and memorable MMA conferences!

The Michigan Museums Association annual conference gathers the Michigan museum community each fall to learn from, connect with, and inspire each other. Conferences typically attract around 200-225 participants from throughout the state. We prioritize both the content of the conference and the experience of the participants, and conference activities include speakers, sessions, and activities throughout the local community.

Conference Venue Space Needs

Monday

Registration - 2 tables with 3 chairs and power, centrally located in or near the hotel lobby.
Meeting Room for Board Meeting - Tables and chairs with seating for 20-25 people, projector/screen, wifi, water.

Tuesday and Wednesday

General Session Space - same setup both days, no changes

Setup - Crescent rounds set for 200-225 people. Stage with drape, podium with mic, lapel mic, projector, two screens, sound.
Food/beverage - water all day, buffet lunch.
Uses - Tuesday morning general session with keynote, Tuesday lunch with business meeting, Tuesday afternoon Museum Cafe, Wednesday morning general season and keynote, Wednesday morning closing session

Social Space - same setup both days, no changes

Location - adjacent to general session space
Registration - 3 tables with 5 chairs and power, centrally located near the primary approach
Vendors (typically 10) - 6 or 8 foot covered tables with 2 chairs and power for each
Food/beverage - Water, coffee, and tea all day, cold beverages for mid-morning and afternoon breaks, light food for some breaks
Comfortable seating where possible

Breakout rooms - same setup in 4-5 different rooms for both days, no changes

Location - adjacent to social and general session spaces
Number - 4-5 breakout rooms are needed to be in use concurrently.
Setup - Classroom setup for up to 50, projector, screen, speaker table with 3 chairs and mic, podium with mic, sound
Food/beverage - water

Conference Food/Beverage Needs

Breaks

Hot beverages all day Tue, half-day Wed
Morning snack items on Tue and Wed - left out until gone
Afternoon snack items on Tuesday - left out until gone

Lunch

Buffet that addresses a spectrum of dietary needs.

Other

Common dietary information provided ahead of time and indicated on tables with legible signage.
China for lunch
China or composted disposables for breaks.

Questions?

Contact Melissa Ford, MMA Assistant Director, at mford at michiganmuseums dot org.

Tentative Full Conference Schedule

A schedule with space, AV, and food/beverage needs can be found here.

*Denotes offsite activities

Monday

7:00-8:00 Registration, Kick-off Coffee setup*

7:45-9:30 Registration*

8:00-9:00 Kick-off Coffee*

9:00-12:00 Workshops and Local Experiences*

10:00-4:00 Registration

1:00-4:00 MMA Board Meeting, Workshops and Local Experiences*

5:00-6:00 Volunteer Appreciation Event*

6:00-8:00 Museum Reception*

Tuesday

7:00-8:00 Registration/vendor set up

8:00-4:15 Registration, vendors

8:00-9:00 Networking Coffee

9:00-10:30 General session and keynote

10:30-11:00 Break

11:00-12:00 Concurrent sessions

12:00-1:30 Lunch/MMA Business meeting

1:30-1:45 Break

1:45-2:45 Concurrent Sessions

2:45-3:00 Break

3:00-4:00 Concurrent Sessions

4:00-4:15 Break

4:15-5:00 Museum Café

5:30-7:30 Museum Reception*

8:00-10:00 Trivia*

Wednesday

7:00-8:00 Registration set-up

7:30-12:15 Registration

7:30-8:15 Conversation Station set up (at Tuesday vendor tables)

8:00-9:00 Member Community Coffee

8:15-11:15 Conversation Stations (except during general session)

9:00-9:45 General Session with keynote

9:45-10:15 Break

10:15-11:15 Concurrent Sessions

11:15-12:00 General Session with Slide Sprint

12:15-1:00 Tear-down

1:00-4:00 Staff Meeting, Workshops and Local Experiences*

4:00-5:30 Wrappy Hour*

2025 Conference Partners

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

313-334-7643

P.O. Box 5246

Cheboygan, MI 49721