Awards FAQs
Which award should I apply for?
If after reviewing the criteria for CMA Awards and our various partner awards you are still unsure which award may apply, contact awards@museums.ca for assistance.
What is the deadline for the award nominations?
The deadline for most CMA Award nominations is November 28. Partner awards may have different deadlines so please refer to the pages of those awards for more information.
When will the CMA provide a response to the nomination submitted?
You should be receiving a response in January.
What is some general advice to applicants to increase their success?
Follow the nomination instructions. Include as much detail and support materials as possible when submitting your application while being considerate of any established word count limits. For Awards of Outstanding Achievement, be sure to carefully outline how your project meets each of the award criteria as this is the primary means of assessment. Unsure? Contact awards@museums.ca for assistance.
How do I fulfill the following criteria: “Projects must be completed during the year of application”?
If your project or accomplishment was launched, initiated, opened or created during the calendar year leading up to the application deadline, you are eligible to apply providing you meet all other requirements and criteria. The project could and may still be active or available following the deadline but needs to have been launched or initiated before the nomination deadline.
Do I need to be a CMA member to send in an application/nomination?
This varies with each award but generally all nominations must come or be supported by an individual or institution with a CMA membership. For some awards, nominees do not have to be members of the CMA. However, each award has specific nomination requirements, so please refer to the page of the award you are considering for more information.
Do I need to be a museum employee to send in an application/nomination?
Not necessarily. For most awards we also accept applications from museum volunteers and members of the board of directors. However, each award has specific nomination requirements, so please refer to the page of the award you are considering for more information.
When and how are the award winners announced?
Award winners are publicly announced at a virtual ceremony in the Spring, winners are also featured in a national press release issued by the CMA, on the CMA website and in the Spring/Summer issue of Muse Magazine.