April 1 Deadline for CMA Invited Sessions and Inno-vents
The CMA welcomes applications for invited sessions and volunteered sessions, following the traditional paper format, for the upcoming 2012 AAA Annual meeting focused on the theme of “Borders and Crossings.” We encourage sessions that examine the progress, perils and potential of anthropological practice in museum contexts. To apply, any AAA member serving as a session organizer can flag their relevant session for review by CMA; acceptance by CMA can ensure placement on the program. These sessions will be reviewed by CMA President-Elect Howard Morphy and the CMA Program Committee. Please communicate directly with Howard.Morphy@anu.edu.au. The deadline for consideration is April 1.
CMA also sponsors “Inno-vents,” a new kind of activity envisioned by the AAA Program Committee as an innovative means of constructing and sharing anthropological knowledge that typically occurs off-site, beyond the usual sessions and exhibits. Examples of Inno-vents from the 2011 AAA meeting can be seen at
<http://www.aaanet.org/meetings/Inno-vents.cfm>. The submission deadline for CMA review of Inno-vents is April 1.
June 1 Deadline for Michael M. Ames Prize
The Michael M. Ames Prize for Innovative Museum Anthropology is awarded annually to individuals for innovative work in museum anthropology. Examples include: outstanding single or multi-authored books or published catalogues; temporary or permanent exhibits; repatriation projects; collaborations with descendant communities; educational or outreach projects; multimedia works, and other endeavours. Individuals can be nominated by any member of CMA (including self-nominations).
Nomination packets must include a cover letter and evidence of the work under consideration (e.g., photographs, catalogues, links to websites, etc.), and supporting materials (e.g., letters of support, media coverage, etc.) Prize-winners will be announced at the CMA Annual Meeting at the AAA conference.
Evaluation Criteria: 1) Creativity: Is the project a unique and creative exploration of museum anthropology’s central themes, tensions, and histories? 2) Timeliness: Does the project say something important about museum anthropology’s current predicaments and unknown future? 3) Depth: In what ways does the project penetrate into the complexity of material culture and the study of it through novel methods and theories? 4) Impact: Does the project have the potential to make broad and lasting impacts in museum anthropology?
We encourage entries to be submitted via digital media if at all possible. To enter work in the 2012 competition, please send the digital version of the nomination packet by the deadline of June 1, 2012, to Trudy Nicks, Chair of the Ames Prize Committee, at: trudyn@rom.on.ca. Please contact Dr. Nicks via email before mailing any bulky items.
September 1 Deadline for CMA Student Travel Award
The CMA Travel Awards are designed to support student travel to the annual AAA meeting to present papers and/or posters. Students and recent PhDs (those who have defended within the year of the award) are eligible to apply. CMA will award two prizes of $500 each.
A brief letter of application must indicate the applicant’s status as a student or recent PhD holder, and explain how this paper/poster relates to their ongoing graduate work or current work as a recent PhD. Applicants must include a copy of the abstract for the paper or poster, the name and abstract for the session in which they will be presenting, and proof of acceptance for presentation at AAA. All applicants must also submit one letter of endorsement from a present or former academic advisor at their most recent institution of study. Prize-winners will be notified before the AAA Annual Meeting so they can make travel arrangements; awards will be announced at the AAA Annual Meeting, where recipients will be presented with a certificate of the award.
Evaluation Criteria: 1) Creativity: Is the paper or poster a unique and novel contribution to museum anthropology? 2) Commitment: Does the student demonstrate a commitment to the field of museum anthropology 3) Impact: Does the paper or poster have the potential to develop into a work that could more broadly impact the field of museum anthropology?
We require these applications to be submitted via digital media. To apply for this award, please email the application packet by the deadline of September 1, 2012, to Christina Kreps, Chair of the Student Travel Prize Committee, at: ckreps@du.edu.
Contact CMA Secretary Margaret Bruchac (U Connecticut-Avery Point) at margaret.bruchac@uconn.edu.
