MA is the professional advocacy body that represents Museums and Galleries and the people who work within them.

Membership to MA is evidence of adherence to professional standards and ethics, as well as a commitment to cultural principles.


Membership Benefits

  • Access to members-only platform, Mīharo to connect with peers and access to professional development resources
  • Exclusive events for members only
  • Government advocacy on your behalf
  • Be part of our national marketing campaigns
  • E-news, events and relevant sector happenings
  • Involvement in a vibrant community of museum and gallery professionals, students, volunteers and colleagues
  • Contribute to and benefit from our sector advocacy on relevant issues
  • Voting rights to select the people you want to represent you and the sector
  • Opportunity to participate in sector surveys and research, and benefit from the research findings
  • Access to events including workshops, conferences, networking get-togethers

Members must abide by Museums Aotearoa’s Code of Ethics and other policies. All memberships are subject to the approval of Museums Aotearoa’s Board.


Fees

Institutional membership

A new way of paying membership fees to MA will be in place for 2024. Read the full document here.

From January we will tie membership fees (for institutional members) to the number of people working in your organisation at $230+GST per person but with generous volume discounts.

Use our online calculator to work out the fees and tell us how much to invoice you for.

Individual membership

There is now only one class of individual membership with voting rights at $385.

Partner with Museums Aotearoa (for suppliers and consultants)

MA is currently developing a partner membership. This membership is for suppliers and consultants to the museum and gallery sector.

Sole-trader: $200 per year

Business: $400 per year

A la carte partnerships including:

  • Website listing on museumsaotearoa.org.nz. Basic includes brief summary of your business and contact URL, website, email. (+Add on; 1/2 page story, visuals, video)
  • PDF directory listing, held in our member-only community platform.
  • Opportunity to feature in 'recommendations' on our member-only community platform.
  • Opportunity to speak at our leadership forums, conferences and awards (+ Add on)
  • Opportunity to network with MA members (+ Add on)
  • Opportunity for advertorial or feature article in the MA fortnightly newsletter to 2,500 subscribers. (+ Add on)
  • Host workshops for MA members. hosting on the MA community platform (+ Add on)
  • Events and conference branding, advertising, installations and attendance (+ Add on)

Email MA to enquire

Networks

MA supports networks within our sector who share common interest areas or professional development activities. Although these groups are independent of MA, these network forums are supported in Mīharo, providing discussions, resources and events. To join the Mīharo discussions you or your organisation must be a member of Museums Aotearoa.

Emerging Museum Professionals NZ (EMPNZ): is a forum for young and/or emerging professionals working in New Zealand museums and galleries. The group is based on a principle of peer support and collegiality with a view towards career development and professional growth within the sector. It is led by a central committee of representatives from around New Zealand. Facebook

Kāhui Kaitiaki: he oranga taonga he oranga tangata is a network of Māori staff working in museums and art galleries, archives and libraries. The group’s long-term goals include professional development and innovative practice, succession planning to increase Māori in museum leadership and governance roles and support for upward mobility of kaimahi across the sector. Facebook

Directors of Small Museums (DSM): Leading a small museum or gallery has a unique set of challenges. Many directors are isolated, without peers or support in the community. While we strive for professional standards we are always under-resourced and find ourselves working in every area of the museum. This network is designed to connect leaders of smaller museums to discuss issues pertinent to the particular challenges of their work.

Te Pū Tiaki Mana Taonga: connects education professionals in museums and galleries across Aotearoa. This Association is designed to provide support, advice, professional learning and dialogue for all educators working in museums, galleries, zoos, aquariums and other groups in the community learning spaces.

Rainbow Museums is the national network of LGBTQI+ people and allies in the galleries, libraries, archives and museum (GLAM) sector of Aotearoa. They share resources and information to support the advancement of rainbow inclusion within both workplaces and museum practice.

The TENNZ group is made up of museums and galleries that actively generate and receive touring exhibitions. The network has representatives from metropolitan and regional institutions covering a wide range of multidisciplinary exhibition concepts and projects. They also share information and opportunities about international touring exhibitions. New website coming soon.

ICOM is an international membership association and a non-governmental organisation which establishes professional and ethical standards for museum activities. For all ICOM enquiries email here or visit their website.