Q&A | ‘It sounds a wee bit trite, but really great things happen when different people get together’ Museums Journal hears about a collaborative health and wellbeing project with Scotland’s submarine community Scottish Maritime Museum

Q&A | 'It sounds a wee bit trite, but really great things happen when different people get together' - Museums Association

Museums Journal hears about a collaborative health and wellbeing project with Scotland’s submarine community

museumsassociation.org

News | Dylan Thomas Centre becomes first Welsh overall winner of Family Friendly Museum Award Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Kelvingrove, Woodhorn (North East Museums) and Charleston were also recognised this year

Dylan Thomas Centre becomes first Welsh overall winner of Family Friendly Museum Award - Museums Association

Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Kelvingrove, Woodhorn and Charleston were also recognised this year

museumsassociation.org

Still time to book your place at Handle With Care: New Approaches to Conservation 🖌️ Join us on Wednesday to explore the continued evolution of conservation practice, hearing from speakers from the National Archives, @rammuseum.bsky.social, @nationaltrust.org.uk and more. Book now from £37 👇

Handle With Care: New Approaches to Conservation - Museums Association

Conservators work across all types of museum collections, from textiles and paintings to coins and natural sciences. Often (but not always) working behind the scenes, this key part of the workforce en...

museumsassociation.org

Last chance to apply for two opportunities, both closing on 11 October 📅 Join the committee administrating our Beecroft Bequest, awarding grants of up to £20,000 for acquisitions: https://ow.ly/STR550ZWl9B Become a new MA rep for Wales, connecting us with Welsh members: https://ow.ly/pT9E50ZWl9E

Did you know you can join us at Conference 2026 this November from just £60? A digital ticket gives you access to our streamed sessions so you can tune in from anywhere in the UK – and beyond 🌍 We’ve rounded up all our streamed sessions so you can check what you’ll get with an online place 👇

Streamed sessions at MA Conference 2026 - Museums Association

Check out everything you’ll get when you purchase a digital ticket to this year’s conference

museumsassociation.org

News | Van Gogh Museum secures future after resolving dispute with Dutch government Settlement will clear the way for major renovation of Amsterdam venue

Van Gogh Museum secures future after resolving dispute with Dutch government - Museums Association

Settlement will clear the way for major renovation of Amsterdam venue

museumsassociation.org

News | Jane Ellis appointed V&A’s deputy director and chief operating officer Ellis succeeds Tim Reeves, who is leaving to become chief executive of English Heritage

Jane Ellis appointed V&A's deputy director and chief operating officer - Museums Association

Ellis succeeds Tim Reeves, who is leaving to become chief executive of English Heritage

museumsassociation.org

Meet the 2026 grantees of the Health and Wellbeing in Museums Fund 👋 We're pleased to announce that nine new grants have been awarded from the fund, funded by the Julia Rausing Trust. The awards enable the development and continuation of groundbreaking health and wellbeing programmes in UK museums.

News | Search begins for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2027 UK museums and galleries have until 7 January to apply for the £200,000 prize Read: https://ow.ly/QatC50ZVRpb

News | William Morris Gallery rehangs collection to explore overlooked stories ‘Reimagined’ galleries place greater emphasis on influence of South Asian and Islamic art

William Morris Gallery rehangs collection to explore overlooked stories - Museums Association

‘Reimagined’ galleries place greater emphasis on influence of South Asian and Islamic art

museumsassociation.org

News | Concerns raised about V&A’s voluntary exit scheme as industrial dispute continues Union says staff cuts could put further pressure on workloads and service delivery

Concerns raised about V&A’s voluntary exit scheme as industrial dispute continues - Museums Association

Union says staff cuts could put further pressure on workloads and service delivery

museumsassociation.org

News | Guy Baxter named director of University of Reading’s The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) 🐑 Current head Kate Arnold-Forster is retiring after almost 24 years in the role

Guy Baxter named director of University of Reading’s Museum of English Rural Life - Museums Association

Current head Kate Arnold-Forster is retiring after almost 24 years in the role

museumsassociation.org

News | Museums Galleries Scotland seeks multi-year funding for Scotland’s museums New research shows 40% of museums in the nation have just three months’ reserves or less

MGS seeks multi-year funding for Scotland’s museums - Museums Association

New research shows 40% of Scottish museums have just three months’ reserves or lesss

museumsassociation.org

News | Contemporary conflict and ‘reimagining’ museum practice: IWM sets out new research aims Institution says it will focus on a broader chronology as it prepares for the second world war centenary

Contemporary conflict and 'reimagining' museum practice: IWM sets out new research aims - Museums Association

Institution says it will focus on a broader chronology as it prepares for the second world war centenary

museumsassociation.org

One month until we land in Birmingham for MA Conference 2026 📅 On our first day in town, we'll be exploring some of the city's top cultural destinations through a range of tours open to everyone joining us in person for this year's conference.

News | The British Museum takes steps to improve flow and access at Bayeux Tapestry show ​Exhibition has faced queue delays as it copes with 'unprecedented demand'​

British Museum takes steps to improve flow and access at Bayeux Tapestry show - Museums Association

Ticket-holders were turned away from the exhibition this week after queue delays

museumsassociation.org

News | Woodhorn celebrates anniversary with unveiling of restored pitheads The industrial heritage site in Northumberland first opened to the public as a visitor attraction 20 years ago North East Museums

Woodhorn celebrates anniversary with unveiling of restored pitheads - Museums Association

The industrial heritage site in Northumberland first opened to the public as a visitor attraction 20 years ago

museumsassociation.org

Opinion | Widespread hidden digital labour is having a negative impact on our workforce Ash Mann shares the findings from a new research report

Widespread hidden digital labour is having a negative impact on our workforce - Museums Association

Ash Mann shares the findings from a new research report

museumsassociation.org

How are you using AI? Take part in Museums Journal’s new survey 🗳️ Over the past few years, a new generation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools has emerged. These are being used in multiple ways across the UK’s museum and heritage sector, from research to communications and beyond.

News | Inaugural Te Māori fellowship begins at Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum Research residencies will further decolonise the Oxford University organisation as well as protect the future of Māori collections

Inaugural Te Māori fellowship begins at Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum - Museums Association

Research residencies will further decolonise the Oxford University organisation as well as protect the future of Maori collections

museumsassociation.org

News | Horniman to reopen natural history gallery early next year Visitors will be able to explore the final part of £12.5m Nature + Love project from February

Horniman to reopen natural history gallery early next year - Museums Association

Visitors will be able to explore the final part of £12.5m Nature + Love project from February

museumsassociation.org

News | ‘Free, forever’: Government rules out entry charges for overseas visitors to national museums Sector welcomes renewed commitment to universal free entry ahead of policy’s 25th anniversary

‘Free, forever’: Government rules out entry charges for overseas visitors to national museums - Museums Association

Sector welcomes renewed commitment to universal free entry ahead of policy’s 25th anniversary

museumsassociation.org

Two days left to apply to volunteer at this year's conference – and join us for free 🤝 In exchange for lending us a hand in Birmingham in November, you'll have the chance to attend sessions, tours and social events free of charge. Find out more about whether it's for you and apply by 1 October 👇

Volunteer at Conference 2026 - Museums Association

If you are a museum studies student, current museum volunteer, front-of-house worker or unwaged then this opportunity is for you. We are recruiting volunteers to help at MA Conference 2026, which take...

museumsassociation.org

Have your say on the new Culture and Sport Strategy for Wales 📢 Join us in Wrexham for Members Together: Wales on 8 October to take part in a round-table discussion on a new vision for culture and sport in Wales.

📅 Join our MA SW England Members' Meet-up! 🗓 Fri 2 Oct 🕛 12-1 💻 Zoom We'll discuss conference prep & sharing tips for making the most of workshops & other development opportunities. With special guest Tamsin Russell, MA Workforce Development Lead. bit.ly/4jlCpci #Museums #MuseumsAssociation

News | Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft to explore ‘radically different’ operating model The Sussex institution was forced to close earlier this year amid financial challenges

Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft to explore 'radically different' operating model - Museums Association

The Sussex institution was forced to close earlier this year amid financial challenges

museumsassociation.org

The Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund is now open for 2027 💸 The fund, run by us at the MA, supports work by museums and community organisations to strengthen communities, using collections. The next deadline for expressions of interest is 20 January 2027.

News | ‘World-class culture in every postcode’: Arts Council England unveils new National Portfolio process Areas of focus for museums include collections stewardship, public value and business transformation

‘World-class culture in every postcode’: ACE unveils new National Portfolio process - Museums Association

Areas of focus for museums include collections stewardship, public value and business transformation

museumsassociation.org

News | Museum leaders call for ‘transformation, not incremental change’ Arts Council England report warns sector is under severe financial pressure and faces ‘critical’ workforce challenges

Museum leaders call for 'transformation, not incremental change' - Museums Association

Arts council report warns sector is under severe financial pressure and faces 'critical' workforce challenges

museumsassociation.org

News | New guidance shared for trans-inclusive toilet provision Resource produced in response to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s revised code of practice

New guidance shared for trans-inclusive toilet provision - Museums Association

Resource produced in response to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s revised code of practice

museumsassociation.org