Clone of 2025 Annual Conference Awards Nomination Form

2026 Call for Awards Nomination
The Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums (MAAM) encourages members from the field to submit nominations for the following categories of awards to recognize organizations and individuals throughout the Mid-Atlantic region for their leadership, career achievements, creativity, and best practices.

THE KATHERINE COFFEY AWARD

The Katherine Coffey Award is given each year by the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums to an individual in the Mid-Atlantic region to recognize distinguished achievement in the museum field. The Coffey Award ceremony is held annually at the MAAM Annual Conference.

MAKING AN IMPACT STORIES

Making an Impact Stories are a conference celebration and peer-learning opportunity. MAAM invites museums and cultural institutions to share programs, exhibitions, or special projects that demonstrate responsiveness, resourcefulness, and creative impact within their organizations and communities.

THE EMERGING MUSEUM PROFESSIONAL AWARD

An award celebrating outstanding emerging professionals who have worked or volunteered in the museum industry for fewer than 7 years.

ALL NOMINATIONS REQUIRE:
- Nominator’s contact information
- Nominee’s contact information
- Letters and supporting documents as PDF.
Please send any questions to info@midatlanticmuseums.org. The deadline for nominations is Friday, July 3, 2026.

AWARDS SELECTION AND ANNOUNCEMENT PROCESS:

The MAAM Awards Committee will review all nominations following the close of the Call for Award Nominations. Nominating parties will be notified of the committee’s decision by the end of August. Recipients will be announced publicly in September and recognized during the 2026 Annual Conference in New Brunswick, NJ, October 6-8, 2026.

- Nominator's Name*
  
  First NameLast Name
- Nominator's Pronouns
- Nominator's Position/Title *
- Nominator's Place of Employment *
- Nominator's E-mail Address*
- Nominator's Phone Number
  
  Area CodePhone Number

- Choose the Award*
  
  The Katherine Coffey AwardThe Making an Impact AwardThe Emerging Museum Professional Award
- I confirm that the person/institution that I am nominating has been, or is, employed and/or located in the Mid-Atlantic region during the period of principal contribution for which the award is being given. This a requirement for eligibility.*
  
  Yes

- The Katherine Coffey Award is given each year by the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums to an individual in the Mid-Atlantic region to recognize distinguished achievement in the museum field. The Coffey Award ceremony is held annually at the MAAM Annual Conference.
  
  Eligibility and Selection Criteria for the Coffey Award
  - Nominees should have worked as a paid museum professional for at least 10 years in a principal position.
    Nominees should have been (or be currently) employed in the Mid-Atlantic region during the period of principal contribution for which the award is being given.
    Nominees should demonstrate accomplishment in their role and a record of service to the profession on state, regional, national, and/or international levels.
    Nominees should also have a proven record of service to the community in which the museum is located.
    Self nomination is not permitted for the Katherine Coffey Award.
    Includes one letter/cover letter from the nominator explaining why you believe the person should be nominated for the Coffey Award
    Includes two additional letters of support, separate from the cover letter (total of 1 cover letter and 2 letters of support), attesting to the nominee’s contributions.
- Nominee's Name
  
  First NameLast Name
- Nominee's Pronouns
- Nominee's Position/Title*
- Nominee's Place of Employment*
- Nominee's Phone Number
  
  Area CodePhone Number
- Nominee's E-mail Address*
- Please include a cover letter explaining why you believe the person should be nominated for the award.*
  
  Cancelof
- Please include first letter of support attesting to the nominee’s contributions to the field and to community.*
  
  Cancelof
- Please include second letter of support attesting to the nominee’s contributions to the field and to community.*
  
  Cancelof
- Is there anything else you would like to share about this person?

- Making an Impact Stories are a conference celebration and peer-learning opportunity. MAAM invites museums and cultural institutions to share programs, exhibitions, or special projects that demonstrate responsiveness, resourcefulness, and creative impact within their organizations and communities. Up to 5 projects will be selected to participate in a 5 minute lightning share-out during the Annual Conference. Self-nominations are welcome.
  
  Projects will be selected to encourage shared learning and field-wide reflection. Submissions should clearly address:
  - What worked: Key strategies, approaches, or decisions that contributed to the project’s success.
  - What didn’t: Challenges, missteps, or lessons learned, and how the institution adapted or responded.
  - Community impact: How the project affected audiences or communities served, including any measurable or observed outcomes.
  - Include supporting materials, such as photos, work samples, visitor impact data (e.g., surveys, feedback), demonstrating the project’s effectiveness
- Nominated Institution
- Institution's Contact Name
  
  First NameLast Name
- Contact's Pronouns
- Contact Position/Title
- Contact's Phone Number
  
  Area CodePhone Number
- Contact's E-mail Address
  example@example.com
- What worked? Share key strategies, approaches, or decisions that contributed to the project’s success.
- What didn’t? Share challenges, missteps, or lessons learned, and how the institution adapted or responded.
- What was the community impact? How did the project affect audiences or communities served, including any measurable or observed outcomes?
- Include supporting materials, such as photos, work samples, visitor impact data (e.g., surveys, feedback), demonstrating the project’s effectiveness
  
  Cancelof
- Is there anything else you would like to share about this institution?

- An award celebrating outstanding emerging professionals who have worked or volunteered in the museum industry for fewer than 7 years.
  
  Eligibility and Selection Criteria for the Emerging Museum Professional
  - Has worked or volunteered in the museum industry for fewer than 7 years.
  - Shows outstanding performance, innovation, or leadership either within their own museum or across the wider museum community
  - Self nomination is not permitted for the Emerging Museum Professional Award
  - Includes a one page cv or brief bio of the nominee.
  - Includes one letter from the nominator explaining why you believe the person should be nominated for the award (preferably someone with direct knowledge of the nominee's work).
  - A second Letter of Support from an additional supporter, distinct from the nominating letter, attesting to the nominee’s contributions to their museum and their community.
- Nominee's Name
  
  First NameLast Name
- Nominee's Pronouns
- Nominee's Position/Title*
- Nominee's Place of Employment*
- Nominee's Phone Number
  
  Area CodePhone Number
- Nominee's E-mail Address*
  example@example.com
- Please include a cover letter explaining why you believe the person should be nominated for the award.*
  
  Cancelof
- One page resume or brief bio of the nominee.*
  
  Cancelof
- Please include letter of support attesting to the nominee’s contributions to the field and to community.*
  
  Cancelof

Should be Empty:

2026 Call for Awards Nomination

THE KATHERINE COFFEY AWARD

MAKING AN IMPACT STORIES

THE EMERGING MUSEUM PROFESSIONAL AWARD

ALL NOMINATIONS REQUIRE:

AWARDS SELECTION AND ANNOUNCEMENT PROCESS:

Eligibility and Selection Criteria for the Coffey Award

Eligibility and Selection Criteria for the Emerging Museum Professional