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museumsassociation.org
Museums Association
@museumsassociation.org
16K followers 810 following 1.3K posts
Membership organisation and network for everyone working in museums and heritage 🤝 based in the UK 📍 museumsassociation.org
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museumsassociation.org
On the announcement, @sharonheal.bsky.social said:
We very much welcome this additional funding which comes at a critical time for the sector when many museums will be negotiating budgets to ensure their survival over the next few years. Local museums are doing amazing work connecting to their communities and creating space and opportunities for civic renewal and for the conversations that we need to have in society. From the fantastic work that Bristol Museums have done using collections to understand gender throughout history to the innovative work that Manchester Jewish Museum is doing to support collective healing between Jewish and Muslim communities, we know that our diverse collections can be a focus for curiosity, understanding and bridging social divides. We hope that this new funding, on top of increased funding for NPOs and for Mend, will support museums to deliver more in partnership with their communities.
January 22, 2026 at 9:19 AM
museumsassociation.org
Don't forget that you can get a discount on both your new MA membership and the first year of your AMA until 31 January ✂️

Make 2026 the year that you level up your professional development with us 👇

Get your membership: https://ow.ly/Aibp50Y00h3
Start the AMA: https://ow.ly/Qk7s50Y00h4
15% off all new memberships and 30% off the first year of your AMA. Happy new year
January 20, 2026 at 11:23 AM
museumsassociation.org
🎙️ In the final episode of this season of Radical Museums, Simon Stephens speaks to Nelson Cummins, curator (legacies of slavery and empire) at Glasgow Museums, about the impact of empire on society today and why it's important to address its legacies: https://ow.ly/K1tw50XWNQX
January 14, 2026 at 4:27 PM
museumsassociation.org
Kick off the new year and start as you mean to go on ✅

Invest in yourself, your career and your sector today with 15% off all new MA memberships (including individual, commercial, freelance and institutional) and 30% off the first year of your AMA, our flexible professional development award.
15% off all new memberships and 30% off the first year of your AMA. Happy new year.
January 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM
museumsassociation.org
Our first one-day conference of 2026: Breaking Barriers 💥

At our event on radical curatorial practice, expect to hear about the skills needed to create dynamic, engaging and exciting exhibitions, and ideas for tackling urgent contemporary concerns.

Book from £36 👉 https://ow.ly/uWOq50XTuGR
Image shows people and abstract sculptures in a gallery space. Text reads: “Breaking Barriers: Radical Curatorial Practice. 28 January 2026, online”
January 8, 2026 at 4:12 PM
museumsassociation.org
Deadline approaching | We're looking for a global majority evaluator for our Anti-racist Museums Programme and a facilitator for two round-table workshops on wellbeing and ableism in the museum sector 👤

Programme evaluator: https://ow.ly/Ba4E50XTnil
Workshop facilitator: https://ow.ly/QsMo50XTnim
Standing outdoors, a person draws on an easel
January 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM
museumsassociation.org
🎙️ “My biggest passion, that started while I was working for the National Trust, is: how do we tell the stories that aren't being told?”

For Radical Museums, Sharon Heal speaks to Marian Gwyn on her work to diversify heritage practices throughout her 30-year career: https://ow.ly/P9cV50XSpOm
January 6, 2026 at 2:14 PM
museumsassociation.org
That’s a wrap on 2025! 🎁

We’re logging off now for our festive break and we’ll be back at our desks on Monday 5 January 2026.

Wishing all our friends and colleagues in the museum sector a merry Christmas and a happy new year 🎉
A lit-up Christmas tree with branches in the foreground
December 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
museumsassociation.org
Merry Christmas and 2025 in review 🎄

We’re here for your enquiries until 24 December, but we’d like to take this opportunity to wish a merry Christmas to all our friends in the museum sector.

Find out more about what we got up to this year: https://ow.ly/z7ha50XM9rr
A lit-up Christmas tree and text reading: Season's greetings from the MA
December 19, 2025 at 10:52 AM
museumsassociation.org
Programme now online for Breaking Barriers: Radical Curatorial Practice 🧪

Join us on 28 January for case studies and panel discussions from the experts behind groundbreaking exhibitions and programmes across the UK 💥

Browse the speakers and sessions – then book from £36 👉 https://ow.ly/IoXJ50XLmPm
An image of a crowd gathered around a wooden sculpture in a gallery. Text reads: Breaking Barriers: Radical Curatorial Practice. 28 January 2026, online
December 18, 2025 at 11:49 AM
museumsassociation.org
“I don't see why wanting to make the history in our museums more comprehensive and inclusive is a radical pursuit.”

In this episode of Radical Museums, Simon Stephens interviews E-J Scott, who founded the Museum of Transology in 2014: https://ow.ly/RYYW50XKYNe
December 17, 2025 at 4:13 PM
museumsassociation.org
Our director Sharon Heal has responded to today's publication of the independent review of Arts Council England.

Look out for a full analysis on the review and museum sector reaction in Museums Journal Online tomorrow.
We welcome the publication of the independent review of Arts Council England. We have long argued for a meaningful strategy for museums in England, so we particularly support the recommendation to develop a strategic framework and create a specific long-term plan for museums. We would like to see this recommendation taken forward in full engagement with the museum sector and community partners to ensure these plans are relevant and more importantly fully funded. There will be nervousness about changes to the NPO system and early clarification and reassurance about what this means for museums is needed. Going forward we will work with our members and sector partners to understand the potential impacts of the recommendations, and we look forward to reading the government’s response in the new year.
December 16, 2025 at 6:51 PM
museumsassociation.org
Congratulations to Nnena Kalu, winner of the #TurnerPrize 2025 🎉

Museums Journal had a wonderful time at the award ceremony in Bradford.
Nnena Kalu stands at a podium to accept the Turner Prize 2025 People sit at round tables during the award ceremony for the Turner Prize 2025
December 10, 2025 at 1:05 PM
museumsassociation.org
“Museums, to me, conjure up an image of being sanitised, stuffy places that only middle-class and upward people go to.”

Listen to episode 1 of Radical Museums season 3 now, where Sharon Heal travels to Belfast to meet with the ACT Initiative's William Mitchell: https://ow.ly/YyyA50XGeuM
December 9, 2025 at 12:54 PM
museumsassociation.org
Programme announced for Moving on Up 2026 🚀

Thinking ahead to next year and in need of a career boost? Look no further: MoU is here to motivate you towards making a change – and an impact.

Find out more and book your place from as little as £36: https://ow.ly/7Wga50XFJWs
People sit and chat at a table at an MA event. Text reads: Moving on Up 2026: Making an Impact with Your Career. 4 February 2026, online
December 8, 2025 at 3:38 PM
museumsassociation.org
Podcast fans: Radical Museums season 3 begins next week 🎙️

Sharon Heal and Simon Stephens are back on the road, travelling across the UK to chat with sector changemakers at the cutting edge of museum practice.

Listen to our teaser and subscribe on your platform of choice 👉 https://ow.ly/8l2R50XBNLe
December 4, 2025 at 12:35 PM
museumsassociation.org
🚨 20% off membership discount ends tonight!

It's your last chance to make the most of our #MuseumShopSunday weekend offer – you could join us today from as little as £3.84 per month.

Check out all the benefits on our website and use the code MUSSHOP20 to get the deal 👉 https://ow.ly/NRNP50XzXGR
Museum Shop Sunday. 20% off your new individual MA membership The must-have membership from as little as £3.84 per month. Offer ends 11.59pm on Monday 1 December
December 1, 2025 at 12:38 PM
museumsassociation.org
It's #MuseumShopSunday weekend! 🎉

Celebrate by taking 20% off your new individual membership – you could join us and get all our great benefits from as little as £3.84 per month 💸

Just use code MUSSHOP20 by Monday 1 December to grab the deal 👉 https://ow.ly/h2ch50XyViE
Museum Shop Sunday. 20% off your new individual MA membership The must-have membership from as little as £3.84 per month. Offer ends 11.59pm on Monday 1 December
November 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM
museumsassociation.org
Including commentary from our director, @sharonheal.bsky.social 👇

#AutumnBudget2025 #Budget2025
Quote from Sharon Heal, director, Museums Association: While the Chancellor did not announce any measures in the Autumn Budget directly related to museums, there were a number of announcements that will impact museums and those who work in and with them, including increases to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage and lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure. Quote from Sharon Heal, director, Museums Association: We welcome the announcement that mayors and potentially other local leaders will have the option to introduce a visitor levy on overnight visitor accommodation in their area. However, it is vital that some of the revenue generated from it is ringfenced for culture, including our world class civic museums that attract tourists and contribute so greatly to the visitor economy. Quote from Sharon Heal, director, Museums Association: Over the coming weeks and months, we will work with our members to understand the real-life impacts of the measures announced in the Budget.
November 27, 2025 at 8:52 PM
museumsassociation.org
In brief | Latest collections, awards and funding news from the sector

Ancient log boats go on display | Lucy Worsley gets lifetime award | Leak forces Museum of Youth Culture to delay opening

Read: https://ow.ly/SYxg50XrTHa

Mural of two men paddling a wooden canoe on a river with huts in the background, displayed in a museum setting with woven fishing traps and a carved canoe model.
November 14, 2025 at 7:50 PM
museumsassociation.org
Q&A | ‘Interest in the climate crisis is slackening because our attention is pulled in so many directions’

As COP30 gets underway, Lula Rappoport tells us how London Art+Climate Week hopes to inspire climate action.

Read: https://ow.ly/68Q750XrTEt
Person with long brown hair wearing a black sleeveless top standing outdoors surrounded by green foliage.
November 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
museumsassociation.org
News | Political row delays opening of Nigeria’s Museum of West African Art

Edo state governor revokes land ownership rights in dispute over museum’s name and mission.

Read: https://ow.ly/HGxI50XrTRZ
November 14, 2025 at 6:55 PM
museumsassociation.org
News | Museums face growing competition from ‘slick’ digital experiences

Report examines how cultural attractions can close the audience engagement gap amid slow post-pandemic recovery.

Read: https://ow.ly/E2SM50XrTot
A young woman sits on the floor of an art gallery, closely observing abstract paintings on the white walls around her.
November 14, 2025 at 6:23 PM
museumsassociation.org
Recent legal cases and the rapid development of technology such as AI have serious ramifications for copyright and licensing in museums.

Join us on 10 December to examine what these mean for the sector: https://ow.ly/65R050Xr9UO
A statue stands in a museum space with visitors looking. Text reads: Open Minds: Understanding Copyright in Museums. 10 December 2025, online
November 13, 2025 at 3:42 PM
museumsassociation.org
Q&A | ‘Appealing to the love of future generations is the most powerful incentive for action’

Kirsten Walker talks to us about the Nature + Love project, which will be unveiled next year at the Horniman Museum & Gardens

Read: https://ow.ly/9wQl50XorJi
Elderly person with white hair wearing a floral patterned dress standing in a lush garden with greenery and trees in the background.
November 7, 2025 at 3:43 PM