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.

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WMA members receive a discounted rate!

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WMA 2022 Annual Meeting

WMA's 2022 Annual Meeting, in partnership with the Oregon Museums Association (OMA), will be held October, 6th-9th, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. The headquarters hotel is the Hilton Downtown Portland.

Download the WMA 2022 Final Program

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Visit the Annual Meeting FAQ

We are living through a perplexing moment created by the pandemic, the racial reckoning of the past two years, and political upheaval—and everyone is experiencing these challenges in different ways. To meet the increasingly complex needs of the museum field, the Annual Meeting aims to be more inclusive and participatory to address the need for learning, healing, and connecting in a safe environment. There will be a varied slate of inspiring activities and an array of new opportunities for you to share content with colleagues.

With 36 sessions, 2 general sessions, 4 evening events, 2 tours, and many new opportunities to share content with colleagues and make in-person connections, #WMA2022 will be a fun and creative gathering of museum folk – and WMA members receive a discount!

Not a WMA member? Join Now.

With the theme of FORWARD, WMA 2022 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 2022 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.

WMA is following Portland's current health and safety protocols, and up-to-date CDC guidelines. Safety protocols against COVID-19 will be in place for Annual Meeting - these may include, but may not be limited to, requirement of proof of vaccination, negative test result within 72 hours of event, and/or mandatory face masks while indoors - and will be determined closer to the event to ensure we are following the most current guidance from the state or Oregon and city of Portland.

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!!! SCAM ALERT !!!

WMA has been made aware of scam email and phone calls related to WMA 2022 in Portland. Scammers are contacting people associated with the Annual Meeting (unknown how they are getting that information) and offering attendee lists and hotel reservations. Please know that any activity by any third-party company offering these services is not authorized, sanctioned, or approved by WMA. These are fraudulent. Do not send any personal information, including credit card information to an outside company regarding the Annual Meeting.

All information needed to reserve hotel rooms is available on our Hotel page and attendee lists will be provided directly from WMA in September. If you have any questions, please contact WMA staff at wma@westmuse.org or 707.433.4701.

WMA 2022 COVID Protocols

We understand the importance of safety and comfort in attending live events, and want to be transparent in our commitment to providing a safe experience for all attendees. We are following current Multnomah County and CDC COVID-19 protocols.

Out of respect and kindness towards your fellow attendees, WMA, OMA, and the Portland Host Committee, strongly recommend that attendees be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 and wear a mask covering your nose and mouth while indoors. If you are not feeling well and have any symptoms of COVID-19 please stay home or in your hotel room. Do not attend the Annual Meeting until you have tested negative for COVID-19.

For more information on public safety, please visit Travel Portland’s Visiting Portland During the Pandemic page.

Should state or local guidance change, we will notify attendees ASAP. If you have any questions, please contact WMA at wma@westmuse.org.

Donate to the 2022 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 making a donation 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 colleauges, learn best practices, and gain new skillsets that can be applied within their own 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 2022 Scholarship are now closed.