Our latest Annual Report details our work in 2025/26 across the UK.

President’s introduction

Over the course of 2025/26 we have seen a huge amount of change and challenge, both in the world and for the museum sector. My focus as president of the Museums Association (MA) has been making the strongest possible case to politicians, funders and key stakeholders for the value of museums throughout the UK.

I am pleased to report that this focus has meant that we have worked effectively with other sector bodies to present a joined-up case for investment in museums. We have met with ministers and government officials; responded to government consultations on a variety of issues; and provided resources to help our members make a compelling case at local level.

We have published manifestos for museums before elections in Wales and Scotland, and arranged to meet with new ministers and their teams. We have also published a new edition of our report, Museums Change Lives in Scotland, with versions planned for Wales and Northern Ireland in the coming year. These contain a rich selection of case studies that demonstrate how museums can enhance health and wellbeing, create better places for us to live and work, and inspire engagement, debate and reflection. Some of this work has been supported by the MA’s Health and Wellbeing in Museums Fund, which is helping museums to embed groundbreaking work in this area.

“Although we continue to live in challenging times, I remain confident that museums can offer hope and joy to our communities, and that we can use our collections to bring people together.”

Steve Miller, President, Museums Association

As well as this focus on advocacy, I am passionate about the support the MA gives our workforce. At a time of pressure on institutions and individuals, I am pleased to say that the MA has continued to assist museum workers at every stage of their career. As well as our professional development awards, the Associateship of the MA (AMA) and the Fellowship of the MA (FMA), we have provided many hours of dedicated careers guidance, training and mentoring. We have also broadened our offer to make it as accessible as possible through our Inclusive AMAs and FMAs.

To support the development of a more inclusive and representative workforce we are continuing our Anti-racist Museums Programme, which takes six museums a year on a journey to becoming anti-racist organisations, with this year’s programme building on the positive evaluation from the first cohort.

I am also driven by a personal commitment to environmental sustainability and the MA’s work on
climate justice, which has continued to support museums to make changes within their own
organisations and to work with their communities to drive positive change. We will continue to promote the difference that museums can make in this vital area through our advocacy work and to fund it through the Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund.

Although we continue to live in challenging times, I remain confident that museums can offer hope and joy to our communities, and that we can use our collections to bring people together. The MA will do all it can to support our members in achieving these goals.

Annual General Meeting 2026 and presidential election

The report also contains the agenda for our Annual General Meeting (AGM). Our independent voting provider MiVoice will allow all MA members to vote before and during the AGM session at our annual conference on 3 November 2026.

The AGM session will take place at the Rep, Birmingham, and members can take part by registering to attend our annual conference either in person or digitally. If you are not attending the conference, you are also welcome to visit for the AGM session on the day or view proceedings via our website.

Members who wish to put questions to the board at the AGM should send them in advance to Charlotte Eyles via charlotte.eyles@museumsassociation.org.

Members will also be able to use the MiVoice platform to take part in our presidential election. There are two candidates for the role of president, chosen from within existing trustees. Our current president’s term of office ends on 31 March 2027, and the new president and will serve from April 2027 to March 2030. You can find out more about the candidates on the voting website.