We champion equitable and impactful museums
by connecting people, fostering learning and community, and nurturing museum excellence.
The American Alliance of Museums is the only organization representing the entire museum field, from art and history museums to science centers and zoos.
The Impact of Museums
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726,000
American jobs are supported by the museum field
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$50 Billion
is contributed to the U.S. economy each year by museums
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35,000
museums are in all communities across the U.S., with 20% in rural areas
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96%
of Americans want legislators to maintain or increase federal funding for museums
Highlights
A Set of Museum Position Descriptions
A strong job description clarifies responsibilities, attracts top talent, streamlines hiring, and provides a roadmap for performance evaluation and professional growth. But a job description alone isn’t enough. Assessing a candidate’s skillset during the hiring process is just as critical. Museums need professionals with a wide range of expertise—from curation and collections management to education, visitor engagement, and security. Beyond technical qualifications, traits like adaptability, communication, problem-solving, and cultural competency are crucial in a candidate’s success.
New Resource: Collections Management Form Templates
AAM Member Benefit
How well-documented are your museum’s collections? With our comprehensive bundle of 11 museum collections management forms, ensure efficient record-keeping. Download and tailor templates for acquisitions, accessions, cataloging, condition and damage reporting, deaccessioning, and loans.
Nov/Dec issue of Museum Magazine: Rethinking Visitation
AAM Member Benefit
This issue of Museum magazine reports on shifting approaches to visitation, sharing the latest strategies museums are using to enhance visitor experience and boost attendance. Find out how museums are using everything from in-gallery engagement to marketing campaigns to biometric research to capture the hearts and minds of visitors today. Not a member? Join today or purchase a subscription to Museum.
Featured Resources
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Curating the Experience: Museum Display Ideas That Captivate and Preserve
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Ask Your Museum’s Supporters to Save IMLS
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The Future of Museum Funding Resource
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EO Impact: Is There an Existential Threat to Nonprofit Status?
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Year-round Advocacy
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Beyond the IT Office: Solving for Ethical AI in Cultural Institutions
Featured Contributor
Blog: Guiding Light: How Values Exercises Can Help You Present Challenging Content
Blog: B.U.I.L.D.-ing Empathy: A Framework for Reinvigorating Your Workplace
Contributors are AAM volunteers who share their time and wisdom to support our field’s collective thought leadership. Learn more »
Upcoming Events
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Dec
17
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Dec
18
From Numbers to Narratives: Exploring the Annual Snapshot Survey
December 18, 2025
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Jan
15
We’re in the business of forever, in perpetuity, but that doesn’t mean museums will stay the same. AAM provides us with a lens on the change, allowing us to be more sensitive, to anticipate, and to be more effective in all we do.
Doug Jones, Director, Florida Museum of Natural History