AAM stories

AAM, the American Alliance of Museums, was formed in 1906. It now represents over 35,000 museums and museum professionals. AAM’s mission is to advocate for and promote equitable and impactful museums. It does this by connecting people, advancing learning and community, and cultivating museum excellence. The organisation encompasses the whole museum field, including art and history museums, science centres and zoos.

It holds the AAM Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo in a different US city each year. Previous host cities include Houston, Atlanta, Seattle, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Boston. The AAM Annual Meeting is a chance for museum professionals to connect with each other and share insights. The accompanying MuseumExpo allows attendees to meet with suppliers from across the sector. A variety of exhibitors take part and showcase the latest products and services.

A key function of the Alliance is its advocacy work. It helps museums shout about the good things that they do for their communities, promoting a better understanding of museums among policymakers, the press, and the public. This was vital during the global pandemic when many museums faced closure. Each year, AAM runs Museums Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., to shine a light on the value of museums.

The Alliance is also home to the Center for the Future of Museums (CFM), which helps museums navigate the future by exploring the latest data and trends, sharing information with members, and providing tools to address future challenges.