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.
“WMA is an association that has so much personality and texture."
- Sandra Jackson-Dumont
Director and CEO of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (former)
WMA 2023 Keynote Speaker
WMA's 2025 Annual Meeting
This Fall, WMA's 2025 Annual Meeting and 90th anniversary celebration will be held in Reno, Nevada on October 1-4. Produced in partnership with the Nevada Museums Association.
With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA attendees will celebrate our 90th anniversary, uplifting one another to improve our individual and institutional practices, creating space for essential ideas and conversations. Through our shared identities and unique differences, WMA 2025 will be a testament to the strength and dedication of cultural professionals and their organizations in the face of adversity. Coming together to find common ground, we look to ELEVATE our collective work and adapt to meet the needs of today’s audiences.
Improving the individual to ELEVATE the collective.
With its Western independence and high altitude thinking, Reno is a wonderful location to convene, build alliances, and forge new roads together. This year is a milestone and a reminder of just how long WMA has been gathering folks to have conversations that move the museum field forward. WMA 2025 will be a celebration--and a call to action to build and strengthen coalitions with colleagues.
Join us in Reno to ELEVATE our work as cultural institutions through our collaborative efforts!
Online registration for WMA 2025 is NOW OPEN.
WMA members receive a discounted rate!
Not a WMA member? Join now!

This fall at WMA 2025 in Reno, there are multiple social events that provide a great opportunity to expand your professional network. WMA Annual Meetings are gatherings of like-minded people who are all passionate about the same thing you are: museums. As former WMA Board President Anne Rowe explains, “WMA Annual Meetings are intentionally constructed to provide a safe and fun space where the foundation for social interactions is well advanced of where you typically begin when meeting new people.”
Evening Events
Every night of the Annual Meeting, WMA hosts an evening event at a local cultural institution. These are a great way to close the evening with entertainment and conversation with peers.
Affinity Luncheons
On Saturday afternoon there are four luncheons targeted for specific types of museum professionals. Find the right one for you to meet like-minded friends over a yummy meal!
Pre-Conference Tours and Workshops
On Wednesday, kick-off the Annual Meeting with arranged tours of local museums or a workshop designed to cultivate new skills with the guidance of established museum professionals.
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