For individuals looking to advance their careers, learn new skills, or expand their network, attending an in-person professional development conference can be vital and very beneficial.
The Western Museums Association (WMA) 2023 Annual Meeting – taking place October 5-8, in Pasadena, California – will offer the latest insight into the museum field, opportunities to learn and engage with professionals across disciplines, the chance to make lifelong connections, and other amazing benefits. And while telecommunication technologies have made it easy to attend virtual conferences or seminars over the past few years, there really is no substitute for real, in-person interaction and networking.
Yet, taking advantage of this type of professional development opportunity often is a matter of finances – from the cost of travel, hotel, parking, meals, the conference registration fee, and other networking events, the price tag can be quite hefty.
To help make attendance at the WMA Annual Meeting financially accessible to individuals who might otherwise not be able to attend, WMA’s Wanda Chin Professional Development Program provides annual scholarships to any current WMA member including full-time or part-time employees, board members, volunteers, students, and interns.
Funded through annual auctions and donations, since 1997, the Wanda Chin Professional Development Program has been 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.
“It was an enjoyable experience to participate in sessions during the day and have the opportunity to engage with multiple museums within walking distance in the evening. In such a short time, I was able to visit so many spaces, and learn from so many knowledgeable museum people, which would not have been possible without the Wanda Chin Scholarship. I am deeply grateful to have received this scholarship because it allowed me to participate in the WMA Annual Meeting this year.”
– Keala Rusher, 2022 Scholarship Recipient, Educator and EMP, Museum of Us (read her blog post ‘WMA 2022: Looking Back, Looking Forward’).
What are the eligibility requirements? To apply, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
- Student – A current WMA Member and enrolled in a degree granting program
- Emerging Professional – A current WMA Member and have been in the museum field for 1-10 years
- Mid-career Professional – A current WMA Member and have been in the museum field for 10-20 years
How to apply?
- Read through the eligibility requirements on the Wanda Chin Scholarship webpage
- Download and fill out the Application Form
- Submit the application to proposals@westmuse.org
Applicants will receive a confirmation upon receipt of the application and will be notified of the final award results no later than Friday, June 30, 2023. The WMA Board will determine the winners of the scholarships and notify them prior to the conference.
We welcome you to submit your application for a WMA 2023 Scholarship here!
Deadline to apply for a WMA 2023 Scholarship is Friday, June 2, 2023
If you have questions, please email wma@westmuse.org
or call WMA at (707) 433-4701
