Our Mission
The Washington Museum Association was established to represent and serve museums of all types and sizes throughout Washington State.
- Encourage and facilitate the use and development of the highest professional standards.
- Further the role of museums as community partners in education.
- Act as a clearing house and communication network for information of special interest to museums.
- Constitute a statewide voice for a diverse constituency and display leadership in supporting cultural diversity and the open expression of ideas.
- Serve as a statewide advocate for museums and actively promote the collection, preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of historic, scientific, artistic and cultural material, sites, practices, and ideas.
WaMA is operated through the efforts of an all-volunteer Board of museum professionals and supporters from across Washington. Board meetings are hosted each quarter by different museums throughout the state.
WaMA Origins
In 1979, the need to create a state-wide museum organization was recognized, and in 1980, WaMA was established with the approval of by-laws at its first annual meeting held in Yakima.
Conference History
- 2025 Chelan
- 2024 Vancouver – Amplify! Keynote: “How Arts, Culture, and Heritage Can Amplify Community” – Michael Greer, President and CEO at ArtsFund
- 2023 Yakima – Come Together Keynote: “Come Together: DEAI for your Institution” Moderated by Aletheia Wittman, panelist Jackie Cook (Repatriation Specialist and the Collection Manager, Colville Tribes’ History and Archaeology Program), Priya Frank (Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Seattle Art Museum) and Polly Olson (Director DEAI & Decolonization, Tribal Liaison, Burke Museum)
- 2022 Olympia – Museums are Essential Keynote: “Museums are essential: How? A Small museum story in the midst of Pandemic” – Harriet Weber with Quincy Valley Historical Society & Museum, Nancy Salguero McKay with the Highline Heritage Museum and Charlene Krise with the Squaxin Island Museum
- 2021 OMA + WaMA Virtual Conference – A Changed Landscape, A Changed Museum Keynote: “Manifesting Change” with Jackie Peterson and Aletheia Wittman
- 2020 – Cancelled due to Covid
- 2019 Spokane – Northwest Museum of Art & Culture – All Stories Are Told Here Keynote: “How Inclusive is Inclusion?: Finding Community in our Differences” with Adriel Luis
- 2018 Bellingham – Whatcom Museum – Transcending Boundaries
- 2017 Moses Lake – Moses Lake Museum & Art Center – Oasis
- 2016 Tacoma – Washington State Historical Society, Museum of Glass, Tacoma Art Museum
- 2015 Goldendale – Maryhill Museum
- 2014 Port Townsend – Fort Worden State Park Conference Center
- 2013 Ellensburg – Central Washington University
- 2012 Seattle – Seattle Center
- 2011 Walla Walla – Whitman College/Kirkman House
- 2010 Gig Harbor – Harbor History Museum
- 2009 Washington State University
- 2008 Clark County Historical Museum
- 2007 Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center
- 2006 Seattle – Museum of Flight
- 2005 Yakima – Yakima Valley Museum
- 2004 Seattle – Nordic Heritage Museum
- 2003 Spokane — Northwest Museum of Art & Culture
- 2002 Keyport — Naval Undersea Museum
- 2001 Bellingham — Whatcom Museum of History & Art
- 2000 Lacey — Lacey Community Center & South Sound Heritage Association
- 1999 Wenatchee — North Central Washington Museum
- 1998 Tacoma — Washington State History Museum
- 1997 Yakima – Yakima Valley Museum
- 1996 Seattle — Nordic Heritage Museum
- 1995 Ilwaco — Ilwaco Heritage Museum
- 1994 Tri-Cities — WSU Richland Extension Campus & Tri-Cities Museum Coalition
- 1993 Tacoma – Washington State Historical Society
- 1992 Wenatchee — North Central Washington Museum
- 1991 Pullman — Washington State University Museum of Art
- 1990 Yakima — Yakima Valley Historical Museum
- 1989 Port Angles — Clallam County Historical Museum
- 1988 Spokane — Museum of Native American Cultures
- 1987 Goldendale — Maryhill Museum of Art
- 1986 Seattle — Nordic Heritage Museum
- 1985 Wenatchee — North Central Washington Museum
- 1984 Olympia — Washington State Capital Museum
- 1983 Spokane — Cheney Cowles Museum
- 1982 Bellingham – Whatcom Museum of History & Art
- 1981 Yakima — Yakima Valley Museum