Annual Meeting

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.

The recent 2019 Annual Meeting was held in Boise, ID on October 4th-7th. The 2019 Program provided a multitude of perspectives representative of today’s museum landscape, and continued the WMA’s rich tradition of provocative programming and educational opportunities. The theme was ENGAGE, and focused on the ways in which museums engaged with their communities, staff, and other institutions.

View the 2019 Final Program View the 2019 Annual Report

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2020 Annual Meeting

This Fall, the 2020 Annual Meeting will be held in Portland, Oregon on October 8th-11th, in partnership with the Oregon Museums Association. With the theme of FORWARD, WMA 2020 will focus on the ways museums can be adaptable, FORWARD-thinking institutions.

What does it mean for a museum to be forward-thinking? What will the museum field look like in years to come? As a collective field capable of inspiring social, cultural, political, environmental, and technological change, the 2020 Annual Meeting, FORWARD, will dig into how museums can foster on-going conversations, inspire forward-thinking ideas, and empower future generations for the betterment of the museum field and our global society.