NJAM Annual Meeting
Creating A Unique, Inclusive, and Community-Centered 250th in New Jersey
When: July 10, 2025
Where: In-person at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, 20 State Route 33 Manalapan, NJ 07726. Free parking available on site.
You’re invited to NJAM’s Annual Meeting! Join colleagues from across the state for opportunities to network, share, listen, and learn.
2026 will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As museums and cultural institutions across the nation plan events, programs, and projects to commemorate this historic milestone, many are also addressing the complexities the nation’s past and present hold for millions of Americans. Museums in New Jersey are finding creative ways to explore the 250th through a community-centered and interdisciplinary approach.
This year’s NJAM Annual Meeting will invite RevolutionNJ, the state’s planning initiative for the 250th, and several New Jersey museums and cultural organizations to present ideas, case studies, and resources for programs, exhibitions, educational opportunities, and more in 2026. In the afternoon, attendees will break into moderated groups to discuss their own perspectives and planning with colleagues in the field.
Agenda
9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. - Registration and Coffee
10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. - Keynote and Case Study Presentation
- Keynote speaker: Marc Lorenc, Chief Public Historian, New Jersey Historical Commission
- Case study presenters:
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- Rhinold Ponder, Executive Director, Art Against Racism
- Samuel Stephens, Executive Director, William Trent House Museum
- Tricia Laughlin Bloom, Senior Curator of American Art, Newark Museum of Art
12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. - Lunch and NJAM Business Meeting
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. - Afternoon Breakout Sessions
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. - Tour Options with Monmouth Battlefield State Park
Please contact us at njassociationofmuseums@gmail.com with questions. We look forward to welcoming you on July 10!