8 days until we kick off MA Conference 2025 in Cardiff, and this year we've got 8 tours for you to choose from 🗺️ Whether you fancy a trip to a coal mine or simply to explore the sights of the city on foot, there's something for everyone on our programme 👉 www.museumsassociation.org/events/confe...

News | Railway’s 200th anniversary festival weekend gets underway Bicentenary celebrations include the reopening of Station Hall at the National Railway Museum

This! Sacha and co will also be running relaxed networking for anyone looking to take a moment away from the programme to chat and chill ☕️

The countdown is on! ⬇️ 10 days until we land at Sain Ffagan Amgueddfa Werin Cymru — St Fagans National Museum of History, Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales for MA Conference 2025 ⏰ #Museums2025

A manifesto for museums in Scotland 📝 In the run up to the Scottish Parliament election in 2026, we're calling for everyone to have the right to access to museums and for sustained and long-term public investment in museums. Read our manifesto in full 👇

News | Turner Prize show opens in Bradford’s Cartwright Hall – shortlisted artists explore themes of identity in annual art prize exhibition

News | Former museum manager pleads not guilty to theft and fraud charges – Stephen Harris is accused of stealing objects from Norfolk Museums Service and selling them at auction

NEWS - North East Museums has been accepted into the latest cohort of the @museumsassociation.org Anti-Racist Museums Programme. www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/news/north-e...

Analysis | Forward thinking: How the MA revised its Code of Ethics to shape up for the future ⚖️ Widespread consultation and debate informed the creation of an updated code 👇

Announcing our 2025 Anti-racist Museums Programme cohort 📢 Six museums will take part in this year’s programme, building on our successful pilot year. We’re supporting the leadership teams of these museums to progress towards becoming anti-racist organisations. Find out more 👇

News | Science Museum launches Space gallery – new permanent exhibition is part of a wider project to rework the ground floor of the London museum

News | Postal Museum to work on legacy project with victims of Post Office scandal – museum will capture stories of those affected by Horizon IT software failures

News | River & Rowing Museum closes to the public due to financial pressures – future of collections remains undecided as museum seeks new occupier for building

Opportunity | Join our 2026 conference panel 👥 We're looking for people to join the panel that will help shape next year's Museums Association conference, which will take place in Birmingham on 2-5 November 2026. Support the development of our annual event – find out more and apply by 13 October 👇

In just two weeks' time we'll be getting stuck into the first session of MA Conference 2025 🎙️ Check out the full programme with sessions, socials and tours taking place over four days: bit.ly/3Vw8CAD Fancy joining us? Book your ticket now, from £55 online and £185 in Cardiff: mus.ms/museums2025

Reflections on the Code of Ethics | Working it out 🤝 As part of a series of blog posts about the new Code of Ethics, @tamsincrussell.bsky.social, our workforce development lead, discusses the importance of ethical practice in creating inclusive, welcoming workplaces.

Last day to apply to join our Nation Committees 📍 As part of our new governance structure, we're looking for 12 members to join our committees to support our work in the four nations of the UK. Find out more and apply by 14 September 👇

News | Online resource launched for organisations working with refugees – University of Sussex developed project with funding from AHRC

News | Sound and vision: David Bowie Centre opens at V&A East Storehouse – Ziggy-era guitar and unfinished musical among items available for public to access for the first time

News | Objects stolen from @rammuseum.bsky.social in overnight burglary – police appeal for witnesses after two suspects forced entry

News | Ian Murray appointed culture minister in government reshuffle – MP for Edinburgh South succeeds Chris Bryant at DCMS

Deadline extended | Become a mentee on our Mentoring for All programme 👥 If you want to access a safe, supportive space to explore your museum career journey and develop your confidence, apply to become a mentee in our 2026 mentoring cohort by 25 September 👇

News | National Gallery seeks architect for new £375m wing – institution also announces partnership with Tate as ‘joint custodians of the national collection’

News | Applications open for £4m museum improvement fund – new round of grants available from DCMS/@wolfsonfdn.bsky.social fund to enhance collections care and accessibility

We're delighted to announce the shortlisted nominees for the Museums Change Lives Awards 2025 🏆 The awards recognise and celebrate outstanding work by UK museums delivering social impact, promoting best practice from museums and individuals.

Reflections on the Code of Ethics | A commitment to anti-racism 📝 As part of a series of blog posts about the new Code of Ethics, Errol Francis, artistic director and CEO of Culture&, shares why it’s important for the new code to have an ethical commitment to anti-racism.

News | Museum of Youth Culture to open permanent home in December Pop-up museum will put down roots in Camden

News | Police called to picket line at National Coal Mining Museum Strike by museum guides has been extended by four weeks in dispute over pay

News | New future planned for Falconer Museum after six-year closure – Forres museum was mothballed in 2019 due to budget pressures

Less than two weeks to go until Helping Hands: Harnessing the Power of Volunteers 🤝 Whether your museum is struggling to recruit and retain volunteers or wants to ensure volunteering aligns with your strategic mission, radically rethink how volunteers can contribute and what you can offer them.

News | British Ceramics Biennial builds on pottery heritage – the event, which runs from 6 September to 19 October, coincides with Stoke's centenary year

Opportunity | Become an MA rep for the south east of England 👤 We're looking to appoint one new member representative for England: South East. In order to ensure a good geographical spread, we're prioritising applications from the east of England in particular.

News | Bristol Museum & Art Gallery returns artefacts to Larrakia People – ceremony held to mark repatriation of 33 culturally significant objects to Australia

News | Conservators debate Bayeux Tapestry risk as French voice fears over loan – more than 68,000 people have signed a petition opposing plans to transport artefact to the UK

Reflections on the Code of Ethics | Changing times 🔀 In the first of a series of blog posts about the new code, @mcterwey.bsky.social, director of public engagement and research at @n-t-s.bsky.social and chair of the MA Ethics Committee, shares how the code responds to changes over the last decade.

News | NMS (@ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social) to display bronze age weapons hoard for the first time – recently acquired Carnoustie Hoard suggests existence of ancient warrior elite in the Angus area

News | Dulwich Picture Gallery (@dulwichgallery.bsky.social) opens new children’s space – ArtPlay Pavilion is part of a £5m development that also includes a new cafe and landscaping

How can our wellbeing campaign support you and your work? 🪴 Join us on 11 September for Members Together Online: Wellbeing, where a panel discussion will see speakers share perspectives on wellbeing research and outline how you can create a culture of care in your museum. Book your free place 👇

We're delighted to share the draft of the updated Code of Ethics for Museums 📝 Following our review of the code from 2023-25, you can now read a full draft of the Code of Ethics 2025. 1/3

Two weeks left to apply | Become a member of our Nation Committees 👤 As part of our new governance structure, we're looking for 12 members to join our committees to support our work in the four nations of the UK: • England (x3) • Northern Ireland (x3) • Scotland (x3) • Wales (x3) Apply now 👇

We’re pleased to hear the Hands On! International Conference for children’s museums and cultural professionals is coming to Liverpool this November 📍 Early bird tickets for the event, hosted by Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, end this Sunday – more information: handson.eureka.org.uk

Our response to the @parliament.scot Pre-Budget scrutiny 2026-27: funding for culture 📝 We've submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, highlighting the importance of continued investment in museums.

News | Kew (@rbgkew.bsky.social) awarded £5m for Palm House renovation – transformative donation from the Julia Rausing Trust

News | @artscouncilengland.bsky.social promises ‘future-fit’ funding platform – but funder says priority is reopening lottery grants for applications from mid-September

We're delighted to announce the grantees of the first round of the reimagined @esmeefairbairn.bsky.social Communities and Collections Fund 🙌 The fund supports projects using museum collections to improve inclusion and equitable working with community partners. Congratulations to our awardees 👇

News | @museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk seeks multi-year funding to ‘safeguard sector’s future’ – national body responds to Scottish parliamentary committee’s pre-budget scrutiny

News | @tillyblyth.bsky.social steps down as director of Weald & Downland Living Museum (@wealddownmuseum.bsky.social) – Blyth appointed executive director of collections and curatorial at IWM

News | National Library of Scotland investigates censorship claim – row over exclusion of gender-critical book from centenary exhibition

LAST CHANCE: our summer flash sale ends at midnight tonight ⏰ If you want 25% off your new individual membership (costing as little as £39 per year or £3.60 per month), now's the time – just use the code SUMMER25 at the membership checkout. Get yours: www.museumsassociation.org/join/individ...

Get hands-on at MA Conference 2025 🛠️ In Cardiff you'll be able to take part in interactive workshops on topics including: • Working equitably with partners • Implementing Easy Read • Making ethical choices in museum scenarios • Exploring Intangible Cultural Heritage through music, food and more