Annual Conference

This year's conference will be held at the Olson Student Center at the University of Maine at Farmington on Friday, October 3, 2025 from 8:30-5:00, presented by Odyssey by HistoryIT.

Keynote speaker: Kayla G. Coleman

Kayla (she/her) comes to the MAM conference as the Executive Director of the New England Museum Association. An art historian, curator, educator, writer, and public art advocate who specializes in Modern and Contemporary art by Black artists in the United States and the Caribbean. Her work is rooted in topics that include access, post-colonialism, gentrification, and the intersections of marginalization. She received an AS in Gallery & Museum Studies and Photography from Queensborough Community College, a BA in Art History from Brooklyn College, and a MA in Art History from the City College of New York. Since beginning her career, Kayla has held positions at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Studio Museum in Harlem, New York Historical Society, WhiteBox, and BronxArtSpace. She was most recently Executive Director of VAE Raleigh. She has delivered lectures and panels at Wofford College, Brooklyn College, BronxArtSpace, and the New York African Studies Association. She has contributed writing and research for books, magazines, and catalogs including publications on Alma Thomas and Bettye Saar. Passionate about Human and Civil Rights, Coleman has done community organizing around racism, prison reform, housing rights, immigration, abortion rights, and voting rights. She is excited to continue the important work of NEMA, where she can apply her knowledge and experience to continue cultivating a more equitable and informed museum world.

Plenary speaker: Maulian Bryant

Maulian Bryant (formally Maulian Dana) was named Executive Director of the Wabanaki Alliance in December 2024. She has been with the Alliance since its founding in 2020, serving for four years as President of the Wabanaki Alliance Board.

Bryant served as the first Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador from 2017-2024, having been appointed by Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis. As Ambassador, Bryant acted as a representative of the Penobscot Nation and liaison for the Nation at the local, state, and federal levels of government in order to educate and advocate for policy and laws that impact and protect the Penobscot Nation’s sovereignty, culture, natural resources, and the general welfare of the Penobscot people. 

Prior to her work as Ambassador, Bryant served as an elected member of the Penobscot Nation Tribal Council. She grew up on Indian Island within the Penobscot Nation’s Reservation and is the daughter of former Penobscot Nation Chief Barry Dana, who served from 2000-2004. Bryant graduated from the University of Maine in Orono with a degree in political science. In 2022, Colby College presented her with an honorary doctorate for her work on equity issues and policy.

Bryant is an outspoken advocate on the issue of derogatory mascots and imagery. Her advocacy resulted in the state of Maine enacting laws that changed the annual Columbus Day in October to Indigenous Peoples Day and prohibited public schools from using derogatory mascots. Her other passion is finding ways to strengthen and expand programs that help to preserve and teach the customs and traditions of the Penobscot people. She is a loving mother to three daughters and centers them in much of her work making the state and country a safer and more equitable place for her children and all tribal people. She believes in leading with love and making progress by finding shared humanity.

Conference schedule

Thursday, October 2:

Before the conference officially gets going, join colleagues from throughout the state for volunteering, education, and networking. While there is no additional fee for any of these activities, space is limited so please RSVP when you register for the conference.

Further details on Thursday activities coming soon!

• Afternoon day of service with the Farmington Historical Society
  
• Tour and conversation at the Washburn Norlands Living History Center
  
• Evening reception at the Octagon House
  

Friday, October 3:

• 8:30-9:00 am - Registration & Continental Breakfast
  
• 9:00-9:30 am - Welcome/Opening Plenary  
  
• 9:45-10:45 am - Session Block A featuring: Curating Intersectionality: The Making of "&"; Storytelling Tips for Docents and Volunteers; Collections Management: A Guided Conversation 
  
• 11:00 am-12:00 pm - Session Block B featuring: Decolonizing Art: Interpreting the Colby Museum through an Indigenous Lens; Achieve FADGI with just a scanner; “The Researcher wants what?”: Effective Communication with Remote Researchers 
  
• 12:00-1:00 pm - Lunch 
  
• 1:00-2:00 pm - Keynote 
  
• 2:15-3:15 pm -Session Block C featuring: The Portland Bridget Project: Discovering and sharing the untold histories of Portland's Irish domestic servants; How to Get People Talking About (almost) Anything; Mapping with Museums and Libraries: Connecting Archival Resources to Contemporary Geospatial Research 
  
• 3:15 - 3:45 pm - Afternoon Coffee Break sponsored by the Clement & Linda McGillicuddy Humanities Center and the Osher Map Library & Smith Center for Cartographic Education
  
• 4:00-5:00 pm - Session Block D featuring: We Are all in the Same Boat: Creating a Community Sense of Place; Engaging Community Members through Innovative Exhibitions; Historic Preservation and the Natural Landscape at Vaughan Homestead 

Early Bird Registration Open August 1st!

Stay tuned to learn more about this year's speakers and conference schedule!

Presenting Sponsor

Host Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Maine Community Foundation
Maine Office of Tourism
Small Corp