Museums Association

The Museums Association (MA) is a professional membership organisation based in London for museum, gallery and heritage professionals, museums, galleries and heritage organisations, and companies that work in the museum, gallery and heritage sector of the United Kingdom. It also offers international membership.

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

The Museums Association's mission is to enhance the value of museums to society by sharing knowledge, developing skills, inspiring innovation, and providing leadership. The MA advocates for museums, sets ethical standards and runs training and professional development for members wishing to further their careers. Its annual conference is Europe's largest event for museum and heritage professionals.

The MA has over 6,500 individual members, 550 institutional members, and 250 corporate members. It is independently funded by its membership.

In 2013 the MA produced Museums Change Lives, its campaigning vision for the future of museums. Museums Change Lives explores the impact of museums under three main headings: wellbeing, better places, ideas and people.

In 2012 the MA began its Museums 2020 project to create a bold vision for the future of the museum sector. Bringing together opinion and practice from around the sector, the MA wants to focus on the impacts that museums will have in the future on individuals, communities, society, and the environment.

The MA is charting the impact of budget cuts to UK museums through its annual cuts survey.

And through its work with the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, the MA has created the Esmee Fairbairn Collections Fund, building on its 2005 report Collections for the Future.

The Museums Association is governed by a board of trustees, from all parts of the UK museum community, elected by MA members. The current president of the organisation is David Anderson. Previous presidents include David Fleming, Stuart Davies, Charles Saumarez Smith, Jane Glaister, Max Hebditch, Barbara Woroncow and Virginia Tandy.

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