Abstracts

Abstract Submissions

Shelf and table displaying several busts in the German Historical Museum, with a young visitor observing one of the busts closely

The abstract submission portal has been closed. Thank you for your contributions.

“Culture connects” is not only the motto of our conference, but also the common thread that runs through the entire event – including the abstracts. Let’s try something new: we’re shifting the focus of the presentations toward connection. In Berlin, we want to focus on the following: fostering genuine relationships, facilitating reunions, sparking meaningful discussions, and encouraging active networking.

ERC 2026 invites you to present your work and ideas to a broad, specialist, registrar audience about (but not limited to):

  • The Registrar profession: areas of expertise
  • Digitalization /AI
  • Networking, exchanging ideas, getting to know each other (registrars unite)

We intend to create a meaningful, diverse and lively atmosphere where attendees learn from each other’s experiences and freely discuss different perspectives. We kindly ask for your thoughtful, well-researched and structured contributions.
Ideally, each session would be presented by one or more speakers from a variety of museums and disciplines to provide various perspectives.

Abstract key dates
Abstract submission opens: 23rd January 2026
Abstract submission deadline: 15th March 2026.
Notification of accepted abstracts will be sent until end of April 2026.

Abstracts received after the submission deadline will not be accepted.

Language: As this is a European conference, English will be the official language.

Proposals/ Topics

The abstracts may address the following topics:

  • loan contracts
  • insurance
  • liability
  • emergency plans
  • tenders and sustainability
  • exhibition display
  • customs and touring exhibitions
  • training of registrars
  • external view of registrars / registrar’s image
  • well-being/ managing the daily workload
  • collection management
  • sustainability

We invite you to view these topics through different lenses, creating space for fresh, original perspectives. We welcome joint presentations that highlight national and international, collaborative projects.

These are introductory sessions tailored to newcomers. They should provide foundational knowledge on the key topics of our profession.

Ongoing digitalization is changing how registrars work in museums and galleries.

  • Day-to-day work/ real-world experiences/ tools, processes
    • How does digitalization affect the required competencies and professional profiles of registrars?
    • Which systems and tools—such as project management and cloud solutions (national vs. international servers)—have proven particularly effective?
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI): real world use cases/ scenarios
    • What challenges arise when integrating AI into existing processes and systems?
    • Which practical case studies and lessons learned can you share regarding AI applications?

Formats

Abstracts must comply with the following format:

  • Align with one of the available topics
  • Include a 250-word overview (maximum) of your proposed presentation
  • Include the authors who will be presenting at the conference, please detail the institution(s)
  • Include a maximum of two biographies for the speakers– these should be no longer than 100 words each. Biographies should be written in third person.
  • Ensure that your abstract does not contain spelling or grammatical errors. No corrections are possible after the submission deadline. The abstract will be reproduced exactly as submitted on the conference website. No proofreading will be done.
  • Abbreviations should be defined. Do not use subtitles, eg: Method, Results etc.
  • Use standard capitalization for the title, authors, and addresses; do not use all capital letters. Please ensure you add all author affiliations when submitting to ensure they appear on the final abstract.

Available formats for presentations:

Oral presentation – 30 Minutes
Panel – 50 Minutes

Poster Session: The poster session provides you with the opportunity to showcase your work through a visual and informative stand-alone format. Poster may reflect a variety of topics covering the themes above. Presenters must print and bring the poster to the conference venue. During the designated poster viewing slots, the presenters will be asked to be next to their poster where they can interact with attendees, answer questions, and discuss their projects/research.

Other Session Formats, workshops and networking formats: We are open to change. Suggestions for alternative formats (and/or audience participation) are very welcome.
Please provide an appropriate explanation of your session format. The more information you can provide about what you would like to do, the better we will be able to evaluate your proposal.

Long corridor in the Academy of Arts lined with bookshelves on both sides
Exhibition hall of the German Historical Museum

Rules

ERC is proud to support speakers contributing to our conference sessions. To help offset expenses, we offer a discount on the conference registration fee. Please note that ERC does not provide honoraria or travel reimbursements for moderators or speakers. As a non-profit association dedicated to advancing professional development, we deeply appreciate the willingness of individuals to share their time and expertise. Your contribution helps us keep the conference accessible to the widest possible audience.

Failure to follow these guidelines may result in disqualification.

During the Conference Committee’s review process, the committee may suggest alternative speakers and/or request changes in order for your session to be accepted. It is the submitter’s responsibility to keep potential speakers informed about the status of the proposal and their participation.

Technical information regarding the submission process will be published on the website as soon as the submission form is up and running.