The American Alliance of Museums (AAM), has revealed the programme for The Museum Summit, which is taking place online from 15 to 16 October.
AAM's global virtual event, the Museum Summit, explores pressing issues regarding participation, mission, and values in the museum sector. The event is attended by hundreds of museum professionals across the field and the planet, building on the Alliance's popular Future of Museums Summit from recent years.
The 2025 Summit will explore two themes, with Mission, Values, and the Politics of Pressure on 15 October, and The Next Era of Volunteerism on 16 October.
Keynote speakers
On Wednesday 15 October, the keynote address will be delivered by Vu Le, writer of the NonprofitAF.com blog and author of the soon to be released book Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy: Unlocking the Full Potential of a Vital and Complex Sector.
His presentation, titled Hope and Imagination: How Nonprofits Can and Must Respond During These Tumultuous Times, will discuss how museums and nonprofits can not only survive when faced with an onslaught of attacks, but grasp the opportunity to radically rethink their approach.
Le is the former executive director of RVC, a nonprofit in Seattle that champions social justice by supporting leaders of colour, strengthening organisations led by communities of colour, and fostering partnerships between diverse communities. He is a founding board member of Community-Centric Fundraising, a movement that aims to ground fundraising practices in racial equity and social justice.
On Thursday 16 October, Michael D. Smith will present keynote The Next Era of Volunteerism.
A nationally renowned social impact leader, Smith has spent decades transforming systems, scaling opportunity, and uniting cross-sector partners to support young people, families, and communities. He will share his invaluable insights into building sustainable volunteer relationships that equitably serve both organisations and communities.
Smith currently serves as president and CEO of Eckerd Connects, one of the biggest nonprofits in the US dedicated to workforce development, family support, and youth services. With more than 2,000 employees and operations across 21 states and Washington, D.C., Eckerd Connects helps over 23,500 people each year gain the resources, skills, and support needed to thrive.
He was previously CEO of AmeriCorps, overseeing $4 billion in assets and over 200,000 service members annually in over 40,000 locations. He served at the White House and at the Obama Foundation from 2017 to 2021 leading the My Brother’s Keeper initiative, directed the Social Innovation Fund, and led philanthropic efforts at the Case Foundation.
Each day, the summit will kick off with a welcome and keynote address, followed by insightful case studies, practical support, and in-depth workshops. To see the full schedule and register to attend, please click here.
The AAM Annual Meeting & Museum Expo 2025 took place in May at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, with the of Museums & Trust. This event included educational sessions, a trade show floor, and hands-on workshop to support museums to "cultivate a healthier, empathetic, and informed society using our trusted position," said AAM.
