Columbia Museum of Art receives two Southeastern Museums Conference awards

PRESS RELEASE

October 1, 2026

Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces it is the recipient of two 2026 Southeastern Museums Conference awards: a bronze publication award for its gallery family guide and a silver technology award for its field trip orientation video.

The SEMC Publication Design Competition showcases the best in the profession and provides benchmarks for regional publication efforts in Southeastern museums. Museum publications can play a vital role in an institution’s educational mission, documenting exhibitions and collections through high-quality design and production and showcasing the depth of scholarship.

Expectations and standards were exceptionally high for this year’s applicants. The 2026 SEMC Publication Design Competition received a record-breaking number of applications from a wide variety of museums across the Southeast. The CMA’s gallery family guide — which offers ways for youth and their caregivers to engage with the art on view, including drawing activities and writing prompts — won bronze in the Gallery Guides category.

The SEMC Technology Competition recognizes excellence in the use of technology within Southeastern museums and celebrates the accomplishments of innovative work. As technology continues to gain importance throughout the museum field, expectations and standards were remarkably high for this year’s applicants. The 2026 SEMC Technology Competition received a record number of applications from a wide variety of museums across the Southeast.

Winning entries were expected to demonstrate innovation, effective design, accessibility, creativity, and recognition of institutional identity. Recipients of the awards were judged by an appointed jury of museum professionals across the region who specialize in the fields of digital media and technology. The CMA’s field trip orientation video, which familiarizes students with what to expect during their upcoming school visit, won silver in the Media Production (Under $1000) category.

Award winners were celebrated at the 2026 Annual Meeting Awards Luncheon on September 30, 2026, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This designation recognizes the CMA’s contribution to professional standards in the museum field.

“These awards are a wonderful recognition of the creativity, thoughtfulness, and dedication our team brings to making art engaging and accessible for visitors of all ages,” says Dr. Laura Mueller, CMA executive director. “I am incredibly proud that the CMA is being recognized by our museum colleagues across the Southeast for work that so beautifully advances our educational mission and creates meaningful connections between people and art.”

Image above: Youth engaging with art on a recent field trip to the museum. 
Photo courtesy Victor Johnson / The Columbia Museum of Art.