Museums Association

{{Infobox organization

| name = Museums Association

| logo_caption = Logo for the Association, used since 2020{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Henry |date=2020-09-18 |title=Museums Association's new visual identity balances heritage and activism |url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/14-20-september-2020/museum-association-new-brand/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Design Week |language=en-UK}}

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| caption =

| abbreviation = MA

| formation = 1889

| logo = Museums Association logo 2020.png

| status = Non-profit company

| purpose = Museum, Gallery and Heritage

| region_served = United Kingdom

| parent_organization =

| budget =

| website = {{official URL}}

| remarks =

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The Museums Association (MA) is a professional membership organisation based in London for museum, gallery and heritage professionals and organisations of the United Kingdom.{{Cite web|url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/home|title=Home|website=museumsassociation.org |accessdate=13 April 2019}}{{cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=Geoffrey |title=For Instruction and Recreation: A Centenary History of the Museums Association |date=1989 |publisher=Quiller |location=London |isbn=1-870948-37-8}} It also offers international membership.

History

The association was started in 1889 by a small group of museums to protect the interests of museums and galleries. Its inaugural meeting was held at the invitation of the Council of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society in York on 20 June 1889. The MA is the oldest museum association in the world.

Function

The MA advocates for museums, sets ethical standards and runs training and professional development for members wishing to further their careers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/about|title=About|website=museumsassociation.org|accessdate=13 April 2019}}

Activities

The association organises an annual conference.{{Cite web|url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/conference|title=Conference & Exhibition|website=museumsassociation.org |accessdate=13 April 2019}} This is Europe's largest event for museum and heritage professionals.

Members receive the monthly Museums Journal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal|title=Museums Journal|website=museumsassociation.org |accessdate=13 April 2019}} The MA also produces Museum Practice online.{{Cite web|url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/museum-practice|title=Museum Practice|website=museumsassociation.org |accessdate=13 April 2019}} The latest case studies and best practice by museum professionals around the UK, with an interactive platform for users to share their ideas.

Through its work with the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, the MA has created the Esmee Fairbairn Collections Fund,{{Cite web|url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/collections/18022011-esmee-fairbairn-collections-fund|title=Esmee Fairbairn Collections Fund|website=museumsassociation.org |accessdate=13 April 2019}} building on its 2005 report, Collections for the Future.{{Cite web|url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/collections/9839|title=Collections for the future|website=museumsassociation.org |accessdate=13 April 2019}}

The MA charts the health of UK museums through its annual survey, Museums in the UK.{{Cite web|url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/campaigns/museum-funding/museums-in-the-uk|title=Museums in the UK 2018|website=museumsassociation.org |accessdate=13 April 2019}}

In 2018, the MA launched Collections 2030, a research project looking at the long-term purpose, use and management of museum collections.{{Cite web|url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/collections/09052018-collections-2030|title=Empowering Collections | Collections 2030|website=museumsassociation.org |accessdate=13 April 2019}}

Membership

The MA has over 8,000 individual members, 580 institutional members, and 250 corporate members.

It runs a professional development scheme, with mentoring and regular training events. "AMA" denotes an Associate of the Museums Association.{{Cite web|url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/professional-development/associateship-of-the-museums-association|title=Associateship of the Museums Association|website=museumsassociation.org |accessdate=13 April 2019}} "FMA" denotes a Fellow of the Museums Association.{{Cite web|url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/professional-development/fellowship-of-the-museums-association|title=Fellowship of the Museums Association ||website=museumsassociation.org |accessdate=13 April 2019}}

Governance

The association is independently funded by its membership, and it is governed by a board of trustees,{{cite web |title=MA Board |url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/about/board |website=museumsassociation.org |accessdate=13 April 2019}} from all parts of the UK museum community, elected by members. In April 2018, Maggie Appleton replaced David Fleming as president; she is also the CEO of the RAF Museum.{{cite press release |author1=David Steel |title=Maggie Appleton elected Museums Association president |url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/news/24012018-maggie-appleton-to-be-museums-association-president |website=museumsassociation.org |accessdate=13 April 2019 |date=24 January 2018}} Previous presidents include David Anderson, Stuart Davies, David Fleming, William Henry Flower, Jane Glaister, Max Hebditch, Charles Saumarez Smith,Virginia Tandy, and Barbara Woroncow. Kinvara Jardine Paterson joined the MA board as climate champion trustee in Feb 2025.