Launching the 2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future

For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception....read more

Call for Proposals

Share with us your proposal for the next conference! This is an exciting opportunity for museum professionals to contribute to a collective pool of knowledge and to present their unique perspectives, sparking a wave of creativity and collaboration.

Submissions are due this month by the 22nd at 11:59 PM EST!

Collection Connections: Recap of Events

Mariners' Museum and Park| Newport News

VAM members attended a collections workshop and learned about the unique Mariners' Museum environment...read more

NEW! Richmond Kickers Event: Night at the Museums

Come out to support the Virginia Association of Museums and the Richmond Kickers on August 29th. Enjoy the game with your family and friends where the Richmond Kickers will face off to the Spokane Velocity FC in Richmond! Don't miss out and share this event! 

Gates open at 5:45 PM, Kickoff starts at 7 PM

Hails & Farewells

Margo Smith Announces Retirement

After 27 years as the director of the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia, Margo Smith AM retired in June 2025. Kluge-Ruhe is one of the most significant collections of Indigenous Australian art in the world with more than 3,600 artworks in its care. It is the center for Indigenous Australian art in the United States and an exemplar of respectful and collaborative relationships with artists and knowledge holders...read more

Katina Davidson Awarded the second Residential Fellowship for First Nations Australian Curator

During her residency, Davidson will curate an exhibition for Kluge-Ruhe's main galleries that focuses on paintings by Spinifex People from Tjuntjuntjara, Western Australia, produced between 2010-2021. Spinifex People left their ancestral homelands when the British began nuclear testing in the Australian desert. They began painting with acrylic on canvas in 1997 as part of their Native Title claim involving the return of their homelands and are supported by Spinifex Arts Project...read more

Stay connected and informed by sharing news and updates with our membership community. Your voice matters and your contributions play a vital role in keeping our members engaged and knowledgeable. Contact communications@vamuseums.org

Volunteer Opportunities

Help VAM support career development opportunities for present and future Virginia museum professionals. Contribute today!

Welcome New Members:

Kylie Eddington

Kayla Payne

Erin Bloodgood

Robert Haroutunian

Upgraded Memberships:

Chrysler Museum of Art

Jeffrey Allison

1. Please remember to make sure your primary and billing contact information is up-to-date.
2. Keep in mind of your membership status! Memberships annually renew on the anniversary of their join date and invoices are typically sent via our member management system and may end up in spam folders. To see if you have an open invoice, log in to your VAM account.

If we can be of any assistance, contact VAM's Membership and Program Coordinator, Whitney here. Thank you!

VAM advocates for the importance of museums in our communities and strengthens the cultural sector by supporting museum professionals throughout their careers with professional development, networking, and thought leadership.