The Western Museums Association’s (WMA) Annual Meeting is universally recognized as a premier venue for those who work in the museum industry to exchange ideas, discuss best practices, network with colleagues, and learn from each other by attending unique sessions. Attendees come away inspired and energized about their profession. Upon returning home, they seek out opportunities to grow and further the creative culture at the center of our communities.
“WMA is an association that has so much personality and texture."
- Sandra Jackson-Dumont
Director and CEO of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (former)
WMA 2023 Keynote Speaker
"WMA is one of the best museum conferences you’ll ever attend. The Annual Meeting is a truly unique series of sessions and experiences. I always learn so much and the vibe is immaculate."
- Nicole Meldahl
Executive Director, Western Neighborhoods Project
WMA's 2026 Annual Meeting
This Fall, WMA's 2026 Annual Meeting will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 23-26, produced in partnership with the Utah Museums Association.
With the theme of ASPIRE, WMA 2026 invites museum professionals to imagine boldly, reaching beyond inherited boundaries to shape futures not yet written. To ASPIRE is not simply to dream; it is to take intentional steps toward transformation. In museums, this means embracing innovation, confronting historical silences, and cultivating practices that reflect the diverse realities of the publics we serve. Whether expanding community engagement, rethinking stewardship, or exploring new interpretive strategies, the act of aspiring requires us to hold space for possibility.
ASPIRE to do, to be, and to see great things.
This year we gather in Salt Lake City, a place shaped by layered histories, evolving communities, and ongoing efforts to reckon with land, identity, and belonging. Against this backdrop, ASPIRE invites us to forge stronger partnerships, uplift underrepresented voices, and build frameworks that honor both local stories and global perspectives.
ASPIRE with us in Salt Lake City as we envision what museums can become when we commit to growth, empathy, and accountability!
Request for WMA 2026 Proposals will open in February!
Not a WMA member? Join now!
WMA 2025 Wanda Chin Scholarship Recipients.
Donate to the Wanda Chin Scholarship Fund!
Since 1997, and funded through annual auctions and donations, the Wanda Chin Professional Development Scholarship is a vital component of the WMA mission and allows WMA to create opportunities for its constituents to build skill sets to better serve their communities.
By donating to the Wanda Chin Scholarship Fund, you will help to subsidize participation in WMA's Annual Meeting for professionals who might not otherwise be able to attend. The Annual Meeting is an opportunity for everyone to network will colleagues, learn best practices, and gain new skill sets that can be applied within their institutions and local communities.
There are two ways to donate and make an impact:
- Donate to the Wanda Chin Scholarship Fund by clicking here. Choose the amount you wish to donate and specify that your donation is for the 'Wanda Chin Scholarship' in the comments section.
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Support the Wanda Chin Scholarship Program by bidding on items in the Annual Meeting's Silent and Live Auction event. Proceeds from the SIlent and Live Auction directly fund this program.
Visit the Wanda Chin Scholarship page to learn more. Applications for 2025 Scholarships opens in April.
Donate to the Wanda Chin Scholarship Fund
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