By Rusty Baker, PA Museums
PA Museums, Pennsylvania’s statewide museum association, is convening in Philadelphia for its annual conference, Trust, Transparency, and Transformation, April 7 – 9, 2019.
Museums and historical organizations have retained the trust of patrons through thick and thin, and even as public trust in institutions declines across the board, museums are holding their own. Increasing transparency has helped museums tell better stories about themselves and their collections and change is on the near horizon as a new generation entering the field demands it. Are museums neutral? Can museums, already struggling with a host of development issues, face accessibility, equity, and employment challenges?
The PA Museums Annual Conference offers museum professionals an interactive forum for the exchange of ideas, professional networking and discussion of trends in the museum field. The event is an excellent opportunity for professionals to reconnect and recharge as well as learn from colleagues. With our conference in Philadelphia, and the City of Brotherly Love will have a lot to offer – historical touchstones as well as glimpses at the cutting edge of technology and museum practice. Our museum community will connect and learn as we enjoy special events showcasing our member museums, educational sessions and excellent speakers, honoring the winners of our annual Special Achievement Awards, and opportunities to connect with our colleagues.
PA Museums is seeking proposals for sessions for our 2019 conference. We opened nominations for our annual awards in August 2018.
Please visit or share this link, https://pamuseums.org/programs-services/, with your networks. We will once again offer free conference registration to university students interested in careers in museums and history.