Memberships to develop your career

Membership of the MA opens the door to valuable networks that can help you get a foothold in the sector. It offers the chance to be part of an international network of people committed to the future of museums and the positive impact that they can have on the communities that they serve.

Student membership of the MA gives free entry to hundreds of museums and exhibitions around the country. It also includes 6 issues of Museums Journal in print each year and access to the online archive.

MA membership offers new learning opportunities, with discounted entry to the MA one-day conferences, free webinars and the chance to attend members’ meetings in your region or nation for free. Members can also access our online courses.

Conference call

It also means you can attend the MA’s annual conference at a reduced rate. This is where people from national, local and independent museums gather to debate, learn about trends, hear from movers and shakers, discuss developments in their fields and share expertise.

Annual MA membership costs £60 (£62 from 1 April) for full-time students. Or essential membership, which offers the same great benefits but online-only, is only £49 per year.

Other organisations to consider joining are:

• National Trust: there’s no student membership but there is a young person’s category (13- to 25-year-olds) which costs £36 a year and entitles you to free entry to hundreds of properties and sites in the UK.

• English Heritage: membership costs £48 a year and gives entry to more than 400 historic sites, plus events, a handbook and a members’ magazine.

Members can also apply to the Benevolent Fund, which supports professional development costs.