Back to Basics | Call for presentations
COMMS + ICOMON Annual Conference 2026
When 2 – 4 December 2026
Where Heureka, Vantaa, Finland
Our conference will focus on in-person participation in Vantaa, with limited opportunities for virtual or pre-recorded presentations. All presentations will be recorded and posted on YouTube after the conference. We are also looking for a post-conference online publication, so the selected presenters will be expected to write an article within 1 month of the event.
All presentations will be conducted in English. You can also present in your original language if you provide a synchronized video translation. There will be no live translation at the conference. For more information, visit our Conference page with all the details.
Topics and Focus Areas for Presentations
The conference theme acknowledges a pivotal moment for the museum sector. Tools that were once available only to large, well-resourced institutions are now within reach of small and medium-sized museums everywhere.
Yet this democratization of technology creates a paradox: the more powerful the tools, the more essential it becomes to master the fundamentals. Strategy before software. Story before algorithm. Human connection before digital spectacle.
The conference advocates a strategic return to core principles — clear communication, collaboration, purposeful audience engagement, sound marketing and PR fundamentals, and institutional storytelling — as the foundation for making high-tech tools truly effective.
We welcome proposals for presentations considering the following program:
- Yes, we can: how we overcame the “Not Possible” mindset: Discuss how AI and modern digital tools have removed historical obstacles related to budgets, staffing, and specialized technical skills in small-to-medium museums.
- And we are all together: Unlock High-Impact Audience Engagement in Museum Projects: There is room for great projects that listen to colleagues’ needs and apply fundamental principles to deliver high-quality, professional results that improve team performance.
- Follow the money: where are the investments heading? Focus on fundraising. The main challenge for museum directors, which constrains most museum initiatives regardless of their merit, is revenue generation.
- ICOM COMMS Session: Doesn’t fit in any of those themes? Examine creative approaches to museum communications and engagement. Try a session where you can present projects about innovative communication strategies.
- ICOM ICOMON Session: A session dedicated to issues related to numismatic museums and museums of financial and economic institutions. Share your expertise on the acquisition, conservation, and display of currencies, educational and financial literacy projects.
- General Session: Maybe your proposal is disruptive and out-of-the-box. No problem. We also have a session for general business.
Share your story. Shape the conversation.
Please access this form, complete all sections, and provide an abstract and a PDF with additional content you find fit for our evaluation. Submissions will be reviewed by our program committee.
There is also an opportunity to apply for a travel grant.
Important Notes:
- Proposals will be evaluated based on their relevance to the conference themes and feasibility within the specified format and time allocation.
- A limited number of live-streamed or recorded presentations will be organized for those unable to travel, with preference given to in-person presentations.
- All proposals must be submitted in English. We may consider presentations in other languages if pre-recorded videos with English subtitles are provided.
- Presenters selected for the conference are expected to participate in the full event, whether virtual or in person.
- Presenters will be provided with the specifications for articles to be included in a post-conference publication.