Awards and Competitions

We take pride in recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations who have dedicated themselves to excellence within, and support of, the museum field.

Awards for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion

Deadline: January 14, 2019

The Alliance Awards for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion honor and celebrate individuals, organizations, or programs advancing the museum field in these areas, either internally through workplace programs and policies or externally with museum audiences and communities.

Chair’s Leadership Award

The AAM Chair’s Leadership Award is reserved for rare occasions to honor outstanding leadership and extraordinary accomplishments in the museum field. Recipients are not nominated but instead chosen by the AAM Board Chair.

Distinguished Service to Museums Award

Deadline: January 14, 2019

The Distinguished Service to Museums Award recognizes an individual’s excellence and contributions to the museum profession for at least 20 years.

Dudley-Wilkinson Award of Distinction

Next deadline to be announced.

The Dudley-Wilkinson Award of Distinction recognizes a museum professional who has demonstrated a commitment to the highest standards of excellence in the registration profession.

Excellence in Exhibition

Open for submissions. Deadline is December 22, 2018.

The Excellence in Exhibition Competition recognizes outstanding achievement in the exhibition format from all types of museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, and any other types of non-commercial institutions offering exhibitions to the public.

Excellence in Label Writing

Open for submissions. Deadline is December 7, 2018.

The Excellence in Label Writing Competition recognizes outstanding and innovative label writing in museums, zoos, aquariums, universities, and libraries.

Excellence in Programming

Open for submissions. Deadline is January 31, 2019.

The EdCom Award for Excellence in Programming recognizes exemplary creativity in museum educational programming.

Excellence in Resources

Open for submissions. Deadline is January 31, 2019.

The EdCom Award for Excellence in Resources recognizes an individual who demonstrates exemplary service to the public through the practice of education in a museum.

John Cotton Dana Award for Leadership

Open for submissions. Deadline is December 16, 2018.

The John Cotton Dana Award for Leadership recognizes an individual, other than someone working directly with museum education programs, for efforts on behalf of public education and community service.

Innovation in Museum Education

Open for submissions. Deadline is January 31, 2019.

The EdCom Award for Innovation in Museum Education recognizes an individual or team in conjunction with a program, resource, or media piece, and may include a museum program done in the community outside the museum walls.

MUSE Awards

Deadline: March 2, 2018

The Media & Technology MUSE Awards recognize outstanding achievement in Galleries, Libraries, Archives or Museums (GLAM) media. Presented to institutions or independent producers who use digital media to enhance the GLAM experience and engage audiences, the MUSE awards celebrate scholarship, community, innovation, creativity, education and inclusiveness.

Nancy Hanks Memorial Award for Professional Excellence

Deadline: January 14, 2019

The Nancy Hanks Memorial Award for Professional Excellence honors a museum professional with fewer than 10 years experience in the museum field. The award recognizes a specific achievement that has benefited either the honoree’s home institution or the museum field in general.

Publications Competition (Pub Comp)

Next competition coming up in summer 2019. Deadline to be announced. 

The only national, juried competition of its kind, in the Museum Publications Design Competition, winners are chosen for their overall design excellence, creativity, and ability to express an institution’s personality, mission, or special features.

Sustainability Excellence Award

Next deadline to be announced; contact PIC-Green for more details

The PIC-Green Sustainability Excellence Award recognizes efforts to educate, facilitate, and encourage green practice and acknowledges and celebrates leaders in environmental sustainability.