AT A CROSSROADS

Tennessee Assocaition of Museums Conference

March 17-19, 2027
DoubleTree by Hilton Clarksville Riverview, Clarksville, TN

Proposals Due: October 18, 2026

Link to Submit Proposal

Situated at the intersection of two states, converging rivers, and a myriad of cultures, Clarksville stands at a natural crossroads. This unique place invites us to examine our host city, our institutions, and ourselves by exploring the lines between the past and the present, the real and the imagined, the ordinary and the surreal, the artistic and the practical. 

Museums and their stakeholders—from local communities exploring their heritage to casual tourists who will only experience our spaces for a brief moment—consistently find themselves standing at a crossroads. As dynamic spaces for the exchange of ideas, museums are where diverse eras, geographies, and human experiences meet. Inside these walls, museum professionals make constant choices about which direction to take, not just for their institutions, but for themselves. While these decisions occasionally require small adjustments to smooth the way, other times, they demand a jarring pivot when the path forward isn’t entirely clear.

Navigating these junctures is challenging, but no one has to do it alone. The Tennessee Association of Museums invites you to stand at these crossroads with us in Clarksville. Here and together, connections with colleagues can become meaningful partnerships, collaboration can be used to break down institutional barriers, and a deep sense of commitment can be fostered so it boldly shapes museums in the now and for the next generation.

No matter your career stage, TAM stands ready to equip you with the tools and networks required to navigate the modern museum landscape and the constant changes from one year to the next. Our community aims to connect institutions of all types, from volunteer-run historic houses to nationally renowned facilities. The road ahead will be filled with twists and turns, unexpected detours, pull-offs, and waysides, and is rarely straightforward. The guiding light can be an intentional commitment to learning, moving beyond mere brainstorming and ideas, and staying grounded in our missions. With those core beliefs and the ideas and conversations found with TAM, we can travel down a more secure path until we reach our next crossroads.