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 & Registrars to the Rescue 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