Call for Session Proposals
38th Annual Visitor Studies Association Conference
Kansas City, MO • July 21-23, 2026

Expanding Your Visitor Studies Toolkit

This year’s VSA conference will focus on applied methodologies and practical approaches to visitor studies. We’ll highlight a broad range of essential skills alongside innovative new methods to better understand and advocate for our visitors and communities. Having a toolkit of field-tested practices is vital in accurately representing the experiences of those we serve. This conference will be a deep dive into visitor studies as it is applied in the real world, from established best practices to creative methods. Our goal is to provide tangible takeaways that attendees can immediately implement at their own institutions.

This year's conference recognizes the pivotal role that both the users and producers of visitor research and evaluation play. We'll foster discussions on applied practice, share what's working on the ground, and learn from each other's challenges. We'll explore effective methods for documenting and sharing findings, emphasizing data communication and its use as core skills. By focusing on these areas, we'll equip attendees to create authentic change by confidently communicating their findings with their institutions and communities.

 

In considering submitting a Session Proposal, the Conference Planning Committee would be excited to receive proposals that cover:

• How institutional values or norms influence methods or evaluative approaches
• Evaluation methods from a visitor’s perspective, including data collection ethics and evaluation that enhances rather than detracts from the visitor experience
• New, innovative, or underutilized methodologies for visitor studies, including methods from outside of the museum field
• Innovative or best practices in discussing data with users and other stakeholders
• The evolution of best practices over time in well-established methodologies
• Sharing of resources, including established instruments, practical publications, reports, and other tools.

Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be rated on the following criteria:

• The proposal provides a clear picture of what to expect during the session, including how presenters will elicit dialogue with the audience about project relevance and implications.
• The proposal articulates how it is aligned (directly or indirectly) with this year’s theme.
• The proposed learning objectives are realistic and achievable.
• The proposal should represent diverse perspectives.
• The proposal demonstrates presenters’ knowledge of and experience with the topic, including relevant methodologies, sources of evidence, and/or literature.
• The proposal highlights specific findings and conclusions and their relevance to the visitor studies/informal learning field.
• All presenters should be confirmed by date of submission.

Timeline

Session submissions are open - Submit your proposal here

January 30, 2026 11:59 pm PST: Deadline for Submission

February 2025: Sessions undergo peer review

February-March 2025: Program Committee finalizes decisions and arranges program schedule. If there are any special presenter circumstances that would impact scheduling, presenters should list them in the submission form.

March 2025: Notifications sent to applicants

Questions? If you have questions or require additional information, please e-mail the VSA Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Session Proposal Guidelines:
We encourage the inclusion of substantial audience discussion within sessions. We are especially looking for ways to involve participants through thought-provoking, reflective conversations related to key ideas and issues raised during your session.

All proposals must include the following:

1. Session Lead: The session lead is the principal contact person for communications between VSA and presenters and is responsible for sharing logistical information with co-presenters. Please be sure to list the individual who will serve in this organizing role in the “Session Lead” field.
2. Confirmed Presenters: Presenters should represent diverse backgrounds and perspectives and can come both from the museum world or outside it. Proposals with confirmed presenters will be rated more highly. Please note: In order to encourage diverse perspectives, VSA has instituted a participation limit for individual presenters. Individuals may only appear on 2 session proposals total. If an individual is listed as a session chair or presenter on more than 2 proposals, none of the proposals will be considered until that individual has withdrawn his/her name from the appropriate number of proposals. Posters do not count toward the two session limit.
3. Title of your session: 12 word maximum.
4. Program Description: Please provide a high level description of your session for inclusion in the Preliminary and Final Programs (50 word maximum). This description may be edited by the Program Chairs for clarity.
5. Session format: Your session should acknowledge and build upon the participants’ own knowledge and experiences. They should be able to clearly connect with your material and apply it to their own situations. Most conference sessions should be designed so that participants are actively engaged rather than passively receiving information. You must indicate one preferred format from the list below for your proposal.

The session format options are: A) projects and methods B) panel presentation, C) facilitated discussion, and D) Mini-Workshops. More details on each of these options are below:

1. Projects and Methods
   
   • A single presenter or group-led presentation detailing or examining a project, research findings, or a specific methodology, instrument, or process. Generally, this will educate attendees on integrating similar steps into their work
   • Maximum of 4 presenters, including session lead
   • 30- or 60-minute session length

This session format includes presentations of recently completed, submitted, or published work. While this may include traditional presentations, we encourage presenters to consider alternative techniques that incorporate greater audience engagement, discussion, and interaction on the topic. Presenters will be responsible for facilitating audience discussion, and should reserve sufficient time for Q&A within the session.

This session type has replaced the Hosted and Individual Paper Presentation session formats found in previous years’ calls for sessions.

2. Panel Presentation
   • A moderated discussion that serves as an opportunity for multiple presenters to examine a specific issue, topic, or theme from a variety of perspectives
   • Maximum of 4 presenters, including session lead
   • 60-minute session length

We encourage presenters to consider alternative techniques that incorporate greater audience engagement, discussion, and interaction on the topic. Presenters should reserve sufficient time for audience discussion and Q&A within the session. Presenters should describe the format in the “Session Plan” section.

3. Facilitated Discussion
   
   • Informal group discussion with participants around key topic or area of interest in the field, lead by single presenter or group
   • Maximum of 3 presenters, including session lead
   • May include a brief introductory presentation to set up the topic to be discussed, but the majority of session should be devoted to dialogue among attendees
   • 60-minute recommended session length

Presenters should describe how they will frame the topic, facilitate discussion, and wrap up the conversation in the “Session Plan” section. In this plan, presenters should also explain how they will adapt their discussion for varying audience sizes (e.g., small break out groups, pair and share, polls, etc.).

4. Mini-Workshops
   
   • 2 hour practical training and instruction session with clear skill or learning outcomes
   • Maximum of 3 presenters, including session lead
   • May include a brief introductory presentation to set up the topic to be discussed, but the majority of session should be devoted to dialogue among attendees

Mini-workshops teach a specific skill including exercises that let attendees practice using this skill. They provide attendees with in-depth lessons, group activities, and real-world case studies. These extended sessions will take place during the conference proper and allow attendees to deep dive and get hands-on experience in a specific topic, skill, or approach.

Note: Poster presentations will be invited through a separate solicitation in late January 2026.

7. Audience: Indicate via checkboxes which audience(s) will benefit most from this session. Consider level of material, job focus, etc. You may make up to three selections.
   • Small teams/individual practitioners
   • All visitor studies professionals
   • Emerging professionals
   • Visitor-facing practitioners (e.g., educators, visitor experience staff, etc.)
   • Experience designers (e.g., exhibit designers, program developers, etc.)
   • Broader evaluation community
   • Museum administrators
   • Another audience (please describe)
8. Learning Outcomes: What will participants know or be able to do as a result of attending your session? You should have two or three learning outcomes, each a separate thought. At least one should relate to VSA’s learning competencies, as described here:  Evaluator Competencies
9. Proposal Narrative: Provide a summary of the content of your presentation. Please include how your session relates to this year’s theme.

Word Limit (excluding references):

• 250 words inimum
• 600 word maximum

Please observe these word limits out of respect to our volunteer reviewers.

10. Session Plan: Describe what will happen during your session. Be sure to include your strategies for audience involvement and interaction, as well as a breakdown of how you intend to use the time allotted. Please include (as applicable) any details regarding

Any specific needs or requests should be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Submission Agreement:
In order to submit your proposal, you will need to read and agree to the following five statements:

1. I understand that as the session lead, it is my responsibility to secure session presenters and to disseminate all logistical and other information to session presenters.
2. I agree that neither I nor my participating session presenters will use the session as a platform to promote products or services of any kind.
3. I understand that presenters do not receive complimentary registrations, honoraria, or paid expenses to speak at the VSA Conference.
4. I understand it is my responsibility to register myself for the conference and to inform all presenters that they too are solely responsible for registering themselves for the conference by the Early Bird Registration deadline.
5. I agree that all presenters for this session will be fully informed that they must be available to present any day of the general conference programming (July 21-23, 2026) and that they will not be permitted to participate in more than two proposals.

I confirm that I have read and agree with the five statements listed and that I am responsible for sharing this information with all presenters for this session.

Proposal Submission Process:

• Prepare your proposal using the above as a guide
• Visit this link to submit proposal(s).
• Submission deadline: January 30, 2026 11:59 pm PST
Address questions to the VSA management team via email: 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Proposal Review Process:

• Session Chair(s) may return or reject proposals without review if the proposals do not address all required information, include presenters listed on more than two proposals, or exceeding the word limits specified above
• Peer-review of proposals will not include presenter identification
• Reviewers will evaluate each proposal they receive according to the criteria listed above

Submit your Session Proposal here