The Western Museums Association’s (WMA) Annual Meeting is known as a premier venue for those who work in the museum industry to exchange ideas and best practices, network with colleagues, and learn from each other by attending valuable sessions. Attendees come away inspired and energized about their profession. Upon returning home, they seek out opportunities to grow and further the creative culture that is the foundation of our society.
“WMA is an association that has so much personality and texture."
- Sandra Jackson-Dumont
Director and CEO of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
WMA 2023 Keynote Speaker
WMA's 2024 Annual Meeting
This Fall, WMA's 2024 Annual Meeting will be held in Tucson, Arizona on September 25-28!
Produced in partnership with the Museums Association of Arizona and the Museum Trustee Assocation.
With the theme of BALANCE, WMA 2024 will be an opportunity for attendees to participate in a unique slate of educational programming that explores ideas that will help define the future of museums and the diverse communities they serve. The Annual Meeting will explore ideas of stability at both an individual and institutional level. WMA invites museum professionals, leaders, and enthusiasts to come together in a community that envisions a more balanced and integrated future for individuals, museums, and the field as a whole. With six session tracks, exciting events, and informal discussions, you won’t want to miss this dynamic conference that showcases an array of perspectives and provides multifaceted learning opportunities for professionals, regardless of cultural institution size, personal specialty, or career level.
Join us in Tucson to shape a resilient and thriving future for museums and find a greater sense of BALANCE!
We are currently in the planning phase for WMA 2024. Registration opens in JUNE!
The 2024 Request for Proposals is now closed.
2024 Wanda Chin Scholarships are NOW OPEN!
Since 1997, the Wanda Chin Professional Development Program helps to make attendance at the WMA Annual Meeting financially accessible to individuals who might otherwise not be able to attend.
Learn more and apply here!
2024 Awards OPEN in May!
There are three Awards WMA honors to museum professionals who make an impact to the field at every conference. Learn more and apply below!
- The Arthur H Wolf Impact Award - recognizes an individual or group whose work on a specific project or program brought about organizational change; supported diversity, social justice, and/or leadership; or had a significant, positive effect on their museum, their surrounding communities, and/or the museum field.
- The WMA Leadership Award - recognizes and acknowledges exceptional individuals who have made a significant impact in their institution or community in the last ten (10) years. This award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to serving diverse communities, promoting social justice, and/or challenging institutional structures.
- The Charles Redd Center for Western Studies Award for Exhibition Excellence - recognizes outstanding achievements of a temporary exhibition from all types of museums as defined by the American Alliance of Museums, without regard to geographical location, size, budget, discipline, or age.
WMA's 2023 Annual Meeting
WMA's 2023 Annual Meeting was held October 5th-8th, 2023 in Pasadena, California.
With the theme of CONNECT, WMA 2023 presented an opportunity for attendees to participate in a unique slate of educational programming, CONNECT with colleagues, and explore ideas that will help define the future of museums and the diverse communities they serve. Six session tracks, exciting programs, and informal discussions provided a fruitful environment for various perspectives to be shared and multifaceted learning opportunities for all cultural institution professionals, regardless of specialty.
Together, we will contribute to make positive changes in the museum field.
Thank you to allattendees, presenters, volunteers, the many event host institutions, WMA's Host and Program Committees, sponsors, exhibitors, as well as the WMA Board and staff for making WMA 2023 such a great success!
View our WMA 2023 Flickr Album!
Donate to the Wanda Chin Scholarship Fund!
WMA 2023 Wanda Chin Scholarship Recipients
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.
- 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 2024 Scholarships are open until May 31st.
Become a WMA member today!
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