Your membership helps us to advocate for and support museums to make an impact and use their collections to inspire people and change lives
We make the case for investment in museums to stakeholders in each nation of the UK, including governments, funders and sector bodies.
As a member, your organisation will receive a wide range of benefits, including free recruitment advertising, ethical and policy guidance, access to funding, and substantial discounts for your staff to take part in our conferences and events.
Celebrating 125 years of incredible stories and cutting-edge reporting
Take 25% off all new memberships for Museums Journal’s birthday
This weekend, get 25% off your new individual, institutional, commercial or freelance and consultant membership as part of our celebrations for 125 years of Museums Journal.
Launched in 1901, the magazine has brought breaking news, insightful analysis and a wealth of fascinating features, reviews and interviews to Museums Association members around the world.
We want as many of you as possible to join us on the journey. Use discount code MJ125 at the membership checkout to take 25% off all kinds of new memberships until 11.59pm on Tuesday 1 September 2026.
Welcome – and happy reading.
We do not receive any government funding and the majority of our resources are generated through membership. Your membership allows us to continue supporting all museums and those working in and with them.
Institutional membership fees are based on the operating budget of the organisation. Your operating budget is all running costs including salaries, but excludes capital expenditure and project funding.
Join today
| Operating budget | Fees | Copies of Museums Journal | Join |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than £111,500 | £90 | 1 | Join |
| £111,501 – £336,000 | £223 | 2 | Join |
| £336,001 – £1,120,000 | £727 | 3 | Join |
| £1,120,001 – £2,240,000 | £1,120 | 4 | Join |
| £2,240,001 – £11,198,500 | £2,016 | 5 | Join |
| Over £11,198,500 | £2,577 | 5 | Join |
| Federations, specialist groups and friends’ organisations | £68 | 1 | Join |
| Non-UK member | £223 | 1 | Join |
Multi-buy discounts
Buying individual membership for your employees, volunteers or trustees is a great way to offer an additional workplace benefit, and give your staff access to individual membership-only benefits, such as access to our online Museum Essentials courses. We can offer a discount for multiple membership purchases (10 or more individual memberships). Please contact us via membership@museumsassociation.org to discuss.
“The MA is the glue to bring the whole sector together”
Benefits for your organisation
- Free attendance for all your staff/volunteers to members’ events
- Substantial discount for your staff to attend MA one-day conferences and other events
- Free recruitment advertising on our website. The go-to-place for sector recruitment
- Access to funding. In the next year we will award over £1m of Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund grants
- Up to five copies of Museums Journal bi-monthly to be shared with staff (in print only)
- Special discounts on purchasing over 10 individual memberships for your staff
- Email newsletters quarterly
- Online access to news, opinion and people sections of Museums Journal
- Advocacy to governments, sector bodies, and funders for all museums
- Free policy reports and events
- Direct representation on museum issues
- Free ethical guidance
- Regional consultation on major issues
- Discounts on our publications
- Copies of the Code of Ethics
- Advice and support from MA staff
