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Wanda Chin Scholarship


2024 Wanda Chin Scholarship Recipients

Wanda Chin Professional Development Program

Since 1997, the Wanda Chin Professional Development Program has helped to make attendance at the Western Museums Association’s (WMA) Annual Meeting financially accessible to individuals who might otherwise not be able to attend. Funded through annual auctions and donations, the Wanda Chin Professional Development Program 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.

 

Eligibility Requirements  •  How to Apply  •  Donate  • 

Read About the Experience of WMA's 2024 Recipients   

 

WMA 2025 Scholarship applications NOW OPEN!

 

Providing scholarships is a vital component of the WMA’s mission—and we need your help! 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 with colleagues, 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:

  1. 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
  2. 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

 

Eligibility Requirements

Any current WMA member is eligible for the Wanda Chin Scholarship. This includes full-time or part-time employees, board members, volunteers, students, and interns. Past scholarship applicants are invited to apply, but previous scholarship winners are not eligible. We encourage applications from members of diverse communities and subscribe to EEO/Affirmative Action principles.

To apply, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

  1. Student – Must be a current WMA Member and enrolled in a degree granting program
  2. Emerging Professional – Must be a current WMA Member and have been in the museum field for 1-10 years
  3. Mid-career Professional – Must be a current WMA Member and have been in the museum field for 10-20 years

Please note: this is a competitive process and awards are based primarily on financial need. Scholarships are not intended to pay the full cost of the Annual Meeting attendance and are generally granted in partial amounts in order to assist as many qualified applicants as possible. It is expected that the recipient or their institution will share in some of the cost.

 

How to Apply

WMA 2025 Scholarship applications NOW OPEN!
  1. Read through the eligibility requirements (see above)
  2. Download and fill out the application form
  3. Submit the application to proposals@westmuse.org

Application Deadline is Friday, June 20.

Applicants will receive a confirmation upon receipt of the application and will be notified of the final award results no later than Friday, July 25, 2025. The WMA Board will determine the winners of the scholarships and notify them prior to the conference.

 

See what previous Wanda Chin Scholarship recipients are saying...

 

"The opportunity to connect with colleagues from across North America was invaluable. Hearing about their projects, struggles, and successes was both inspiring and validating. It reinforced that meaningful change is happening in museums, and we are all part of this movement toward more inclusive, community-focused institutions... I’m excited to carry this energy forward as I continue to challenge the status quo in my work. I’m grateful for the scholarship that made this experience possible, and for the new connections and insights that will help guide my work in the years to come." 
 
 - Lindsie Bruns
2024 Wanda Chin Scholarship Recipient
Director of Creative Experience | The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland
Calgary, Alberta
 
 

"From the moment I arrived, I felt at home among people who share the same drive to make museums more inclusive, welcoming, and reflective of the communities they serve. Though the theme of “balance” wove through the entire event, many of the educational sessions I attended focused specifically on community—how museums can open their doors wider, embrace community voices, and take on the shared responsibility of cultural stewardship."

- Russell Nauman
2024 Wanda Chin Scholarship Recipient
Exhibitions Curator | Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF)
San Francisco, California
 
 

WestMuse Blog Posts by Wanda Chin Award Recipients

Every year, Wanda Chin Award recipients write a post for the WestMuse Blog about their experience as a scholarship recipient. We invite you to read through some of the past blog posts below.

 

WMA 2025 Scholarship applications close JUNE 20, 2025.

If you have questions, please email wma@westmuse.org

or call WMA at (707) 433-4701

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