Museum Organizations

Museums in the US enjoy several layers of representation. There are national and international organizations that represent all museums, and others that represent specific types of museums.

Most states have museum associations and some cities do as well. For example, one science museum could belong to (pay dues to):

• the international/national organization, the Association of Science-Technology Centers
• the national organization for all types of museums: the American Association of Museums
• a state organization for all types of museums: the Florida Museums Association
• a regional organization: the Southeastern Museums Conference
• possibly a city-wide or county-wide organization

That’s way too many meetings to attend and museums select which are most helpful to them.

Most organizations offer forums for professionals to exchange ideas, discuss problems, and share news. Many offer workshops for professional development and list museum job openings. Most have annual conferences. The conferences provide opportunities to learn what is going on and to meet the people who are making things happen.

National Organizations:

Art museums:
Association of Art Museum Curators
Association of Art Museum Directors

History Museums:
American Association for State and Local History
Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums

Children’s Museums:
Association of Children’s Museums

Science and Technology Museums:
Association of Science-Technology Centers

Zoo and Aquarium:
Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Museum Stores:
Museum Store Association

Regional Organizations:

• Association of Midwest Museums
• Mid-Atlantic Association Museums
• Mountain-Plains Museum Association
• New England Museum Association
• Southeast Museums Conference
• Western Museums Association

State Organizations:

• Alabama Museums Association
• Museums Alaska
• Museum Association of Arizona
• Arkansas Museums Association:
• California Museums Association
• Colorado-Wyoming Association of Museums
• Connecticut League of History Organizations
• Deleware Museum Association
• Florida Association of Museums:
• Georgia Association of Museums & Gallerieieswww.gamg.org/
• Hawai’i Museums Association
• Idaho Association of Museums
• Illinois Association of Museums
• Association of Indiana Museums
• Iowa Museums Association
• Kansas Museums Association
• Kentucky Museum & Heritage Alliance
• Louisiana Association of Museums
• Maine Archives and Museums
• Maryland Association of History Museums
• Michigan Museums Association
• Minnesota Association of Museums
• Mississippi Museums Association
• Missouri Museums Association
• Museums Association of Montana
• Nevada Museums Association
• New Jersey Association of Museums
• New Mexico Association of Museums
• Museum Association of New York
• North Carolina Museums Council
• Ohio Museums Association
• Oklahoma Museums Association
• Oregon Museum Association
• Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations
• South Carolina Federation of Museums
• Association of South Dakota Museums
• Tennessee Association of Museums
• Texas Association of Museums
• Utah Museums Association
• Vermont Museum and Gallery Alliance
• Virginia Association of Museums
• Washington Museums Association
• Museums of West Virginia
• Wisconsin Federation of Museums