Museum Associations: An Intro

Museums, and the people who work with them, are not islands.

We are all linked through a network of professional associations. These groups host conferences, set standards, offer training, advocate for funding, and help us stay connected.

And there are more of them than you think.

Even just here in the US. I can think of seven categories:

1. National Associations
There is really just one main national association in the US that represents the museum field as a whole: the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) is a sort of distant cousin.

2. Regional Associations
These associations connect museums within a specific region. Examples are the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums (MAAM), the New England Museum Association (NEMA), and the Western Museums Association (WMA).

3. State Associations
Some examples are the Museum Association of New York (best acronym: MANY), the Texas Association of Museums (TAM), and the Illinois Association of Museums (IAM).

4. Domain-Specific Associations
Some associations focus on a specific type of museum-y thing, such as the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC), the Association of Children's Museums (ACM), and the American Public Gardens Association (APGA).

5. Role-Based Associations
These associations are organized by professional role instead of museum type. Examples include the Museum Computer Network (MCN), the Association of Registrars and Collection Specialists (ARCS), and the Visitor Studies Association (VSA).

6. Identity-Based Associations
These associations represent museums focused on specific cultures. Examples are the Association of African American Museums (AAAM), the Association of Latino Museums (ALM), and the Council of American Jewish Museums (CAJM).

7. Allied-Field Associations
Finally, some associations support professions that work closely with museums. Examples include the American Institute for Conservation (AIC), the Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD), and the National Association for Interpretation (NAI).

See? Told you.

Here’s the thing:

You are not alone! Museum associations connect and support all the people in our field.

Warmly,
Jonathan

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MtM Word of the Day:
Certificate of Insurance, or COI: A document from an insurance company that proves an organization has the right insurance coverage. It lists policy types, coverage limits, and dates for risks such as property damage or worker injuries during projects or events.

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