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
2026 – Suquamish & Bainbridge Island
Clearwater Resort
Theme: The Power of Place: Museums Supporting Communities
2025 – Chelan
Campbell’s Resort
Common Threads Conference Program
Keynote: “Common Threads: Museums as Community Connectors” – Yesenia Navarrete Hunter, PhD
2024 – Vancouver
Keynote: “How Arts, Culture, and Heritage Can Amplify Community” – Michael Greer, President and CEO, ArtFund
2023 – Yakima
Yakima Valley Community College
Come Together Conference Program
Keynote: “Come Together: DEAI for your Institution” – Moderated by Aletheia Whittman, panelist Jackie Cook (Repatriation Specialist and Collection Manager, Colville Tribes’ History & 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 Conference Program
Keynote: “Museums are Essential: How? A Small Museum Story in the Midst of a Pandemic” – Harriet Weber, Quincy Valley Historical Society & Museum, and Nancy Salguero McKay, Highline Heritage Museum, and Charlene Krise, Squaxin Island Museum
2021 – Virtual Conference
Oregon Museum Association & WaMA
Theme: A Changed Landscape, A Changed Museum
Keynote: “Manifesting Change” – Jackie Peterson & Aletheia Whittman
2020 – Canceled due to Covid
2019 – Spokane
Northwest Museum of Art & Culture
All Stories Are Told Here Conference Program
Keynote: “How Inclusive is Inclusion? Finding Community in Our Difference” – Adriel Luis, Curator for Digital and Emerging Practice at the Smithsonian Institution Asian Pacific American Center
2018 – Bellngham
Whatcom Museum
Transcending Boundaries Conference Program
Keynote Speaker: David Jepsen, Journalist, Author, Historian
2017 – Moses Lake
Moses Lake Museum & Art Center
Keynote Speaker: Museum Hack
2016 – Tacoma
Washington State Historical Society
Museum of Glass
Tacoma Art Museum
Adventures in Museumland Conference Program
Keynote Speaker: Michael Sullivan, Artifacts, Inc.
2015 – Goldendale
Maryhill Museum
Treasures of Washington Museums … What are Yours Conference Program
Keynote Speaker: “Hidden Treasures in Washington’s Museums” – Harriet Baskas, Author
2014 – Port Townsend
Fort Worden State Park & Conference Center
Authenticity: Real Things, Real Stories, Real Places Conference Program
Keynote Speaker: Knute Berger, Author, Columnist, Historian & Preservationist
2013 – Ellensburg
Central Washington University
Museums at the Center of Community: Representative, Reflective, and Relevant Conference Program
Keynote Speaker: Jack Nisbet, Teacher, Naturalist, and Writer
2012 – Seattle
Seattle Center
2011 – Walla Walla
Kirkman House & Whitman College
Museums as Gathering Places Conference Program
Keynote: “Museums as Gathering Places” – Roberta (Bobbie) Connor, Director of the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute
2010 – Gig Harbor
Harbor History Museum
2009 – Pullman
Washington State University
2008 – Vancouver
Clark County Historical Museum
2007 – Wenatchee
Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center
2006 – Seattle
Museum of Flight
2005 – Yakima
Yakima Valley Museum
Keynote: “Whodever Throwd that Ded Cat on My Yard…” – Brian Crockett, Co-Founder of SITES’ Museum On Main Street Program
2004 – Ballard
Nordic Heritage Museum
New Approaches in Challenging Times Conference Program
Keynote: “Preserving Our Diverse Heritage Through Museums” – Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles
2003 – Spokane
Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture
Risky Business: Adventuring Outside the Box Conference Program
Keynote: “Leading People from the Middle” – Bill Robinson, President, Whitworth College
2002 – Keyport
Navel Undersea Museum
2001 – Bellingham
Whatcom Museum of History & Art
2000 – Olympia & Lacey
State Capital Museum
Forward Thinking: Museums Educating the Next Generation Conference Program
Keynote: “Education and the Role of Museums” – Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen
1999 – Wenatchee
North Central Washington Museum
1998 – Tacoma
Washington State History Museum
1997 – Yakima
Yakima Valley Museum
Enough Talk, Let’s Do It Conference Program
Keynote I: “Cultural Tourism – What We Can Expect From the Traveling Public” -Robin Pollard, Director, Washington State Tourism
Keynote II: “Museums in Tomorrow’s World” – David Mayo, Exhibit Designer, Fowler Museum of Cultural History, UCLA
1996 – Seattle
Nordic Heritage Museum
Recognizing and Responding: Reaching the Broadest Community Conference Program
Keynote: “Excellence & Equity: Expanding Your Public
Dimension” – Bonnie Pitman, Executive Director, Bay Area Discovery
Museum; Chair, National Task Force for Excellence &
Equity; former Associate Director for Programs, Seattle
Art Museum
1995 – Illwaco
Illwaco 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 (Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center)
Tourism and Museums Future Directions Conference Program
Keynote: “Tourism: Not Just Another Trip to the Beach” – John Savich, Director of Tourism Development Division, Washington State Department of Trade and Economic Development