Calling all MA members in the south west of England 📍 Your reps Julie TK and Jo are delighted to invite you to a meet-up at Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum on 11 May – a great opportunity to meet your regional reps and get to know MA members in your area. RSVP: https://ow.ly/yEmt50YMBLe

Last chance to book | Do digital with us at Museum Tech 2026 🔌 At our popular annual museum technology event, we'll be talking about audiences, engagement, systems, procurement, AI, collections, social media, interactives and much more. Join us on Wednesday from £84: https://ow.ly/lKtO50YMA5P

News | Five museums in England shortlisted for Art Fund’s #MuseumOfTheYear 🏆 The winner will be announced on 25 June – congratulations to the shortlisted museums: • Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery • The Box, Plymouth • The Fitzwilliam Museum • The National Gallery • V&A East Storehouse

News | Union action secures 3.5% pay rise for London Museum staff Industrial action ends as workers back pay deal

News | Overseas visitors should not be charged unless Universal ID is in place, says Hodge Labour peer says financial returns would be less than £10m as she clarifies position on free entry

News | ‘How do we build a relationship with the skeptical generation?’: V&A East opens its doors Long-awaited museum unveiled in east London’s Olympic park

‘No time for modern art’: Mr Beecroft and his bequest 📜 Ever wondered about the eponymous benefactor of the MA’s Beecroft Bequest? Former bequest trustee Emma Shepley introduces us to Walter Beecroft, his work to establish an art gallery in Southend and his enduring passion for the old masters.

Book your Career Conversation for May/June 2026 💬 Career Conversations are one-hour online discussions with Tamsin C Russell, our workforce development lead, where you can explore your career journey so far and share ideas for next steps. Get in touch with us to book – exclusively for MA members 👇

News | Met Office - weather and climate responds to visitor attraction concerns about weather app 🌦️ Industry figures have warned that ‘misleading’ rain icons could be costing venues up to £137,000 a day

Analysis | Preserving the heritage of the Russia-Ukraine war Museums’ efforts to collect artefacts and document testimonies about the Russian invasion are being hampered by a lack of funding to repair damaged facilities, writes Rob Sharp.

Q&A | ‘In true NML style, we chose to tear up the rule book and do something different’ Joe Brook tells us how England’s only national museum group outside of London is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

News | Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund marks first decade Fifteen exhibitions of major loans are taking place this year at host institutions across UK Garfield Weston Foundation

News | The Wiener Holocaust Library wins planning approval for major extension London institution granted permission to expand its exhibition and learning spaces

News | Manchester Museum gets £200,000 for Vivarium redevelopment Institution is one of 24 grant recipients in latest round of the DCMS/Wolfson funding

News | Museums in England awarded £25.5m in latest round of Mend grants Recipients include Black Country Living Museum and Newstead Abbey

The Museums Change Lives Awards 2026 are officially open for nominations 🏆 In an increasingly polarised world, which museums are cutting through the noise to deliver social impact and show up for their communities? Scroll 👇

Become an AMA mentor and support fellow museum professionals on their development journey 📈 We’re recruiting mentors for our AMA. In this volunteer role, you’ll have the opportunity to help sector colleagues realise their potential as they progress through the programme. Apply by 29 April 👇

Case study | Programming around a Masterpiece tour 🗓️ When a Monet toured to South Shields Museum (North East Museums), the team programmed events rooted in participation, sensory access and wellbeing

News | Collections Trust takes on Find an Object service Museums Association version remains live until 18 May

Beecroft Bequest case study | Anglo-Saxon gold and garnet jewellery at Lincoln Museum 📿 In 2025 the MA’s Beecroft Bequest supported Lincoln Museum’s acquisition of a remarkable group of gold and garnet jewellery, the work of Anglo-Saxon goldsmiths in 7th century England. Read more 👇

News | Architects announced for National Gallery’s new modern art wing Kengo Kuma and Associates with BDP and MICA appointed following an international competition

Opinion | A portrait changed our perspective 🖼️ Hannah Hooks on how Portrait of Mai by Joshua Reynolds speaks to multiple stories of colonial expansion.

News | Relief as government closes loophole that would allow visitors to ‘abuse’ membership schemes Sector welcomes news that charitable memberships excluded from subscription crackdown

Review | Do the locomotion: Preston Park Museum, Stockton-on-Tees 🚂 Creative installations and interactives engage visitors in the story of rail at this new exhibition space

Start your Fellowship journey for free 💸 The Fellowship of the Museums Association (FMA) recognises significant contribution to museums. As part of our commitment to diversifying the sector, we’re pleased to announce four fully-funded inclusive places for the programme. Apply for yours by 10 May 👇

Beecroft Bequest case study | Milton Keynes Museum (MKM) MKM is dedicated to the history of Milton Keynes, and is the repository for all archaeology excavated in the borough. In 2025 the MA's Beecroft Bequest supported the acquisition of two fragments of a middle Bronze Age gold twisted torc 👇

News | British Museum’s controversial forecourt plans given green light Camden Council grants planning permission for new welcome pavilions and informal landscaping

News | Sector pays tribute to Neil Cossons Cossons, who died at the end of March, had a long and influential career in museums

News | Royal Marines Experience launches fundraising push ahead of summer opening Immersive museum set to open in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Salary Research and Recommendations: 2025-26 update 💰 In November 2022 we published our Salary Research and Recommendations and encouraged employers, staff and funders to use the findings in this report as an advocacy tool to highlight the serious issues around low pay in the museum sector. 1/3

News | National museums to work with budget airline industry on new charging model Changes may include new customer services approach and a series of ‘add-ons’ for visitors

News | MP joins protest against relocation of Walsall Leather Museum Campaigners say decision ‘has lifted the lid on historic failings by our council’

News | Scottish cultural organisations awarded £130,947 Museums Galleries Scotland’s Small Grants Fund opens next round

*Last chance* to book your place at Conference 2026 with 10% off! Spring has sprung and it's almost time for the early bird to fly the nest – our 10% discount for early bookings ends tomorrow at 11.59pm ⏰ Don't wake up in April to realise you've missed out! Get yours now from just £54 👇

News | Henry Moore Studios & Gardens reopens following redevelopment Moore worked and lived at Perry Green in Hertfordshire from 1940 until his death in 1986

Event tomorrow | Trans-Inclusive Culture 🗓️ On Trans Day of Visibility 2026, the Research Centre for Museums and Galleries will lead a celebration of trans-inclusive culture, bringing together cultural leaders and experts to explore the unique role and potential of culture in advancing inclusion.

Opportunity | Join our Anti-racism and Decolonisation Steering Group 👥 The group, supported by the MA, is recruiting two new members. The group meets four times a year to consider and advocate for how to take anti-racism and decolonisation forward in the UK museum sector. Apply by 22 April 👇

News | Cultural sector must ‘urgently find collective voice’ on AI Audiences Agency report explores how cultural organisations can adopt the technology in a responsible way

News | ‘City of closure’: Former CCA staff raise alarm about Glasgow’s culture sector Loss of cultural venue is part of a wider pattern in the city, says group

News | ‘Serious reservations’ about proposal to scrap free entry for overseas visitors Concern in museum sector as DCMS and ACE accept recommendations of Hodge review

News | Public poll by @artfund.bsky.social shows strong support for tourist tax to keep nationals free Almost three-quarters of people would back ring-fenced levy to help sector maintain free entry

Careers guide 2026 | How to ace your next job interview 🎾 Tamsin C Russell shares her tips on how to make the case that you are the right person for the job. #MuseumJobs #MuseumCareers #CareerAdvice

Wordsworth Trust saves Lake District poet’s final home Rydal Mount was on sale for £2.5m after struggling with falling visitor numbers and rising costs

News | Government drops plans to introduce copyright exception for AI training Long-awaited report sets out need for further consultation and research

Who is in the running for City of Culture 2029? Nine contenders make the longlist for accolade and £10m cash prize

News | ‘Major policy breakthrough’ as culture is included in England’s devolution bill Amendment to give mayors new powers to champion the arts, heritage and creative industries

Opportunity | Become an AMA mentor 🤝 We’re now recruiting mentors for our Associateship of the Museums Association programme. In this exciting volunteer role, you’ll have the opportunity to support museum professionals realise their potential as they progress through their AMA. Apply by 29 April 👇

Careers guide | Managing imposter syndrome 🕵️‍♀️ Have you ever felt that you aren’t as good at your job as people think you are, that you don’t know what you’re doing, or that someone is going to call you out as unworthy of your role? Read Museums Journal’s tips for overcoming feelings of inadequacy 👇

One week left to get 10% off your place at MA Conference 2026 ⏰ Want to use up this financial year’s budget and secure your ticket for less? Book by 31 March for an early bird discount when you use code 26CONF10. You could join us in Birmingham for as little as £171, or online for just £54 👇

Members Survey 2025/26 📊 Our latest Members Survey shows that the financial pressures on museums of all types and sizes have remained high over the past year. As local and parliamentary elections approach, we will use this data to call for increased and sustained public investment in the sector.