Museums Alaska

Ever thought about joining our board? Now is your time! Nominations are open and will close on August 6, 2026, followed by member voting.

Learn more and submit your nomination here: https://forms.gle/fsPQJBeHv7g6tezf9

The Museums Alaska board is the driving force behind our statewide professional organization. Nine volunteers, representing a variety of regions and interests across the state, set the vision and policies that propel our mission forward.

Board members serve a three-year term, with the option of re-nominating themselves for an additional three-year term. Every year, we have three board positions open for nominations. More information about board service is below.

Currently, Museums Alaska is in a transition period as we seek to create new services for our members and the field, as well as new revenue streams to sustain our organization. If you think that would be an exciting challenge, please consider nominating yourself!

Learn more about board service on our website: https://museumsalaska.org/get-involved/board-service/

EARLY BIRD RATE: Museums Alaska conference registration is open and the early bird rate is available until July 31. Sign up soon to secure a spot in limited-space workshops and tours! Learn more: https://museumsalaska.org/conferences/2026-conference/2026-conference-details/

Our scholarship deadline is June 30. Learn more: https://forms.gle/Xox9VCLZwMkxCXJ98

Our keynote this year is Polly McKenna-Cress, a leader in the museum field with more than 35+ years of experience in exhibition design, interpretation, and both formal and informal education. Her work is grounded in civic-minded, socially responsible creative practices and emphasizes meaningful community engagement at local and international levels.

She has managed and collaborated on more than 60 exhibitions worldwide and spent over 25 years as an Associate Professor, where she provided academic leadership and mentored students across multiple disciplines. An accomplished author, lecturer, and workshop facilitator, McKenna-Cress is widely recognized for her contributions to the field.

We will also have many of our own Alaska colleagues present sessions and workshops on a variety of topics from curation, programming, collections management, and more! Learn more: https://museumsalaska.org/conferences/2026-conference/2026-conference-schedule/

We hope to see you in Juneau this October! Let us know if you have any questions!

One week left to apply for a conference scholarship! Deadline — June 30: https://forms.gle/xkQKcvZMXFLRkgbY6

Please let me know if you have any questions. We hope to see you in Juneau!

Learn more about our conference: https://museumsalaska.org/conferences/2026-conference/2026-conference-details/

Congratulations to the Alaska Native Heritage Center on their 2026 Collections Management Grant!

The Alaska Native Heritage Center will contract with a conservator to execute treatments on several Alaska Native gut parkas within the organization’s collection. This project will create documentation on communities of origin and prepare the objects for studies that will be done by Alaska Native community members.

Thank you to Rasmuson Foundation for supporting this important grant program that helps museums and cultural centers care for the important history, culture, and art in their collections.