...serving your professional needs
through information, ideas, workshops, and meetings...

Why Join?

MPMA is a regional museum organization that puts you in touch instantly with colleagues located in ten states that are near to you. It provides you easy access to great variety. A regional organization makes it possible for you to meet many exhibits designers, directors, curators, technology professionals, deputies, designers, registrars, volunteer coordinators, tribal leaders, educators, students, evaluators, etc., who may be from your state or a different one that is close by. Your regional contacts will lead to a greater variety of loan possibilities and information sharing. While meeting people from all over the region, you will also get to enjoy smaller venues where you can really develop friendships and share ideas.

Benefits include:

Online News

MPMA’s E-News Service will keep you current on breaking news stories and issues relating to the museum industry. This is one of MPMA's most popular membership benefits.

Regional Newsletter

Keep uptodate on what's happening to museums, your colleagues as well as jobs opening up around the region. MPMA’s bi-monthly newsletter will keep you current on national issues affecting the museum field. In addition, you may contribute articles or post current information about you and your museum (Note: this is a great way to get known in the region).

Annual Conference

One of the most talked about professional training venues in the region, the MPMA annual conference is attended by museum professionals from all over the region and has outstanding keynote speakers from around the country. You'll benefit from the diversity of experiences, disciplines and viewpoints found in the professional development sessions. You'll also benefit from valuable affinity groups, an extensive exhibit hall where you'll see the latest museum products and services, a lively late-nite bar meeting and exciting social events and tours.

Job Bank

You will have access to MPMA’s job bank which lists job announcements, internships and job seekers from the region and beyond.

Discount Programs

Discount Programs with MPMA membership save you money. MPMA’s Discount Programs will strengthen your institution by helping you save money on museum operations and better serve your public and community. The Discount Programs include:

Conference discounts for registration

Hotel discount rates at the Club Quarters Hotel in Dallas; Washington, DC; New York; Boston, MA; Philadelphia and London,

Supply discounts through the Purchasing Co-op

Purchasing Co-op

MPMA's Institutional members receive deep discounts on products used for collections care. The Purchasing Co-op is a cooperative buying program for MPMA Institutional Members only that provides discounts on the archival and collection care supplies. Contact MPMA for Discount Passcodes. Currently, the Purchasing Co-op provides the deepest discounts on collections care supplies than any other cooperative museum program in the country, up to 65% off.

Savings Chart
Our thanks to Jenny Yearous, Curator of Collections Management at the State Historical Society of North Dakota, for providing the following chart to illustrate how you can save by buying collections care items through our co-op. Free shipping is included with all items listed below.

Item	Catalog Price	Purchasing Co-op Price (Approx)
Cotton Gloves	$ 21.95	$ 12.19
Tags, 1.5 x 3"	$ 21.85	$ 6.27
Boxes, 12 x 15 x 10"	$ 9.15	$ 4.80
Boxes, 18 x 40 x 6"	$ 47.15	$ 18.10
Acid-Free Tissue, 30 x 500"	$102.66	$ 74.36

Networking

You will have access to MPMA’s network of over 700 professionals affiliated with the region's museums and businesses serving the museum community. You'll hear about current ideas and concerns and you will come to know who’s who in the field and who has the answers you seek. You will also find a supportive group of professionals who are doing the same things you are!

Affinity and SPC Committees

MPMA’s eleven affinities and SPCs will provide you with a small group of like-minded professionals doing the same thing you do. Affinities meet at MPMA’s conference and communicate throughout the year. They provide forums for sharing concerns and ideas. MPMA members may join any of these groups. MPMA’s newest affinity group is the Emerging Leaders Affinity for students and those new to the museum profession. It joins MPMA’s other affinities: ACUMG - COMPT - CURCOM - EMERGING LEADERS –EDCOM - NAME - RC-MPMA - SMAC - TRIBAL MUSEUM NETWORK - VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS COMMITTEE.

Mentoring

MPMA’s Mentor Program pairs emerging museum professionals with experienced museum professionals. Once a match is made, then the mentoring program is tailored to your needs and interests.

Representation

MPMA Board members and its State Representatives will voice your concerns to the organization's governing board which establishes policy and actions for MPMA. Your issues can also be heard on a national level because MPMA represents the mountain and plains section of the country at the American Association of Museums' Council of Regional Associations. This group advises AAM on issues from the field. You can also get involved in one of MPMA’s affiliate committees - a great way to meet people, share ideas, and contribute to the museum profession.

Click here for Membership Brochure and rates (PDF)