Page Inspect

American Alliance of Museums – American Alliance of Museums



# Privacy notice

This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to collect information about how you interact with our website and allow us to remember you. We use this information in order to improve and customize your browsing experience and for analytics and metrics about our visitors both on this website and other media. To find out more about the cookies we use, see our Privacy Policy.

I Accept and dismiss this message

Skip to content

American Alliance of Museums American Alliance of Museums

## Quick Links

- Login
- Search

Menu

# Menu

Close

## Primary Navigation

- Resources & Publications
- Resource Library (Members only)
- AAM Learning Programs
- Alliance Blog
- Future of Museums Blog
- Museum magazine
- Exhibition journal
- Bookstore
- On-Demand Programs
- Toolkits & Guides
- Write for the Alliance
- Reports & Research
- Sample Documents (Tier 3 only)
- Customized Assistance (Tier 3 only)
- Advance Your Career
- Manage Your Career
- Find Salary Information
- Build your Network
- Career Management Resources
- Professional Development Resources
- Resource Library
- \[column-break\]
- JobHQ
- Find a Job
- Post a Job
- Swap Advice on Museum Junction
- Awards and Recognition
- Events
- AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo
- Museums Advocacy Day
- The Museum Summit
- Calendar of Events
- Add Your Event (Ally Members only)
- About Museums
- COVID-19 Resources & Information for the Museum Field
- Learn More About Museums
- Museum Facts & Data
- Reports and Research
- Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion
- Social Impact
- Museums and P-12 Education
- Financial Sustainability
- Find a Museum
- Center for the Future of Museums
- Facing Change: Advancing Board Diversity
- Museum Marketplace
- \[column-break\]
- Advocacy
- Ethics, Standards and Professional Practices
- Ethics
- Core Standards for Museums
- Core Documents
- Accreditation & Excellence Programs
- Pledge of Excellence
- Museum Assessment Program
- Core Documents Verification
- Accreditation
- Peer Review
- Toolkits & Guides
- Membership
- Types and Benefits
- Museum Membership
- Individual Membership
- Industry Membership
- Ally Membership
- About Membership
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Renew Your Membership
- Donate
- Support AAM
- Corporate Partnerships
- Exhibit with AAM
- Advertising
- Donate Now
- 2024 Impact Report
- About AAM
- About the American Alliance of Museums
- Strategic Framework
- Our Board
- Our Staff
- Employment Opportunities
- Advertising & Partnerships
- Press Releases
- Contact Us
- Subscribe
- \[column-break\]
- What We Do
- Accreditation and Excellence
- Advocacy
- Advisors & Speakers Bureau
- Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo
- Bookstore
- Building Audiences
- Center for the Future of Museums
- Ethics, Standards, and Professional Practices
- Facing Change: Advancing Board Diversity
- Museums and Creative Aging
- Museums Fostering Belonging
- Reports and Research
- Swap Advice on Museum Junction
- Where to Find Us
- Get Involved With AAM

# Site Search
Close

Search for:  Search

# Homepage

## 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.

Become an AAM member

Make a donation

**Updates on recent Executive Orders and how to contact your elected officials**

## The Impact of Museums

- 726,000

**American jobs** are supported by the museum field
- $50 Billion

is **contributed to the U.S. economy** each year by museums
- 35,000

**museums** are in all communities across the U.S., with 20% in rural areas
- 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.

Download the Descriptions

### 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.

Download the forms

### Sept/Oct – Collections issue of Museum Magazine

**AAM Member Benefit
**

The latest issue, “Collection Queries and Consequences” is out now! From evolving practices in ethical cultural care of collections to environmental controls, from greener transport of objects to responsible deaccessioning—this issue of *Museum* brings you the latest articles and viewpoints moving collections stewardship forward. Not a member? Join today or purchase a subscription to *Museum*.

Preview the new issue

## Featured Resources

- Unique Hosting Opportunity: The World’s Most Important Jesus-Era Artifacts
- Ask Your Museum’s Supporters to Save IMLS
- The Future of Museum Funding Resource
- EO Impact: Is There an Existential Threat to Nonprofit Status?
- Year-round Advocacy
- Beyond the IT Office: Solving for Ethical AI in Cultural Institutions

Browse the resource library

## Featured Contributor

### Ashley Witherspoon

Founder, Hand Made Dreams

Connect with them on Museum Junction

* * *

**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

### Museums Advocacy Day

February 23-24, 2026

Learn more about Museums Advocacy Day

- Nov

17

### Developing Cohesive Teams

Online

November 17, 2025
- Nov

20

### Museums & Social Media Summit

Online

November 20, 2025
- Nov

20

### Demystifying Accreditation Webinar

November 20, 2025

View All Calendar Events »

**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

Become a member

#### AAM Member-Only Content

AAM Members get exclusive access to premium digital content including:

- Featured articles from Museum magazine
- Access to more than 1,500 resource listings from the Resource Center
- Tools, reports, and templates for equipping your work in museums

Log In

- Not a member? Join Now
- Learn more about AAM Membership

#### We're Sorry

Your current membership level does not allow you to access this content.

Upgrade Your Membership

- Learn More about AAM Membership

#### AAM Member-Only Content

AAM Members get exclusive access to premium digital content including:

- Featured articles from Museum magazine
- Access to more than 1,500 resource listings from the Resource Center
- Tools, reports, and templates for equipping your work in museums

Log In

- Not a member? Join Now
- Learn more about AAM Membership

#### We're Sorry

Your current membership level does not allow you to access this content.

Upgrade Your Membership

- Learn More about AAM Membership

## Site footer

The American Alliance of Museums’ mission is to champion equitable and impactful museums by connecting people, fostering learning and community, and nurturing museum excellence.

American Alliance of Museums

### Footer links

- About AAM
- Contact Us
- Press Room
- View or Edit My Profile
- Renew Your Membership
- Terms of Use
- Blog Code of Conduct
- Privacy Policy
- Copyright Statement

### Social media accounts

- Facebook
- LinkedIn
- Instagram

### Copyright links

© 2025 American Alliance of Museums

## Subscribe to Field Notes!

Packed with stories and insights for museum people, Field Notes is delivered to your inbox every Monday. Once you've completed the form below, confirm your subscription in the email sent to you.

*If you are a current AAM member, please sign-up using the email address associated with your account.*

Primary RoleArchivist/LibrarianBoard Chair (unpaid)Community Outreach/External RelationsConservationConsultant/Independent ProfessionalCuratorialDevelopmentEducator: College/UniversityEducator: MuseumExhibitionsFacility/OperationsFinance & AccountingFormer Director/CEOGeneral Administrative StaffGovernment Agency StaffGovernment RelationsHRIT/WebLegalLiving Collections CareMembershipMuseum Events/Food ServiceMuseum StoreMuseum TrusteeMuseum VolunteerOther Museum FunctionOther Non-Museum FunctionPresident/CEO/Executive DirectorPublic Relations & MarketingPublicationsRegistration/Collections ManagementResearch: Audience EvaluationResearch: Discipline BasedRetired Museum StaffSecuritySenior Management/VP/COO/CFO/Division DirectorStudent: Museum-RelatedStudent: OtherVisitor ServicesVolunteer Management

Are you a museum professional?  Yes No

Are you a current AAM member?  Yes No

SUBSCRIBE!

## Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription, and please add communications@aam-us.org to your safe sender list.