What Is the Washington Museum Association Website?

Updated

The Washington Museum Association (WaMA) website is the online hub for a statewide network of museum employees, volunteers, patrons, businesses, and organizations that support museums across Washington State. Use it to learn about the association, follow museum advocacy in the state Legislature, find membership options, and keep up with events such as the annual meeting. It is an association and advocacy site rather than a directory of individual museum exhibits or ticketing service.

What the Site Covers

The homepage presents WaMA as a connector for people and groups interested in art, heritage, and science education. Its main sections point to distinct purposes:

  • Advocacy — updates and actions, plus guidance on how to advocate for your museum.
  • Museums Connect — described as a three-year initiative in support of museums across Washington State.
  • Bill Reports — the latest bills WaMA is tracking in the Washington State Legislature.
  • Arts, Heritage, Science — a day of workshops and networking held with the Washington State Historical Society and Inspire Washington.
  • Heritage Caucus — a public meeting of legislators, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and members of the public interested in heritage and culture.

Who It Is For

The site addresses several audiences at once:

If you are… The site helps you…
A museum employee or volunteer Follow advocacy updates, tracked bills, and sector events
A patron or fan of museums Understand the statewide network and find ways to get involved
A business or organization Explore membership levels and benefits
A legislator or public participant Learn about the Heritage Caucus and heritage policy conversations

Membership and Events

WaMA invites individuals and institutions to become members, with membership levels and benefits listed on the site. Membership is framed as a way to support all museums in Washington State and to join others working to preserve and share the state's cultural, natural, and scientific resources. The site also lists a directory and member benefits as entry points.

For events, the annual meeting is announced for October 19–21, 2026, in Suquamish and Bainbridge Island, with a save-the-date notice and a promise of more information later. Check the site closer to the date for registration details, since the homepage does not yet provide them.

What It Does Not Provide

The site is not a museum finder, a ticket seller, or a catalog of exhibitions. If you want to plan a visit to a specific museum, this is the wrong starting point — use it instead to understand the statewide support network, advocacy activity, and professional gatherings around Washington's museums.