In preparation for the first wave of 2021 conferences, we have created a list of events across the globe that focus on innovation and development in the culture sector. Whether you’re an archivist, a curator, or a student, there’s something on this list for everyone.
And if you’re on the fence about your 2021 conference line up, many of these events are accessible from home which means that local conferences are now open to a global audience at a much lower cost! Check out the information below for details about virtual attendance registration and ticket prices.
As conferences continue to pivot to digital, it seems as though event details are changing daily. If you have an update or conference to add to this list, please reach out to Rielle.ullberg@axiell.com. Prices listed are in USD unless otherwise specified.
MuseWeb (MW) Conference – April 5-7, 16, 23, 30
MW21 promises to explore developments in museum innovation and technology. The global conference offers professional learning opportunities including plenary sessions, networking events, workshops, and awards.
💻 Fully Virtual
💳 Registration is open!
- Individual membership (includes conference registration): $200 until March 18, then $225
- Student Membership (includes conference registration): $150 until March 18, then $175
Association of Art Museum Curators (AAMC) Conference – April 29-30 + May 3-4
The AAMC conference offers a selection of panels, keynotes, workshops and breakout opportunities for socializing with other conference-goers. Targeted to the visual arts community, the conference will explore and create dialogues around the concept of identity.
💻 Fully Virtual
💳 Registration is open to AAMC members!
- Main conference registration: $150
- Special Access Artist Studio Visits registration: $150
Canadian Museums Association (CMA) National Conference – Starts May 3
CMA2021 offers a program centered around the theme of Moving Forward, inspired by a need to enhance solidarity, connectedness, and social responsibility in the museum sector. The virtual series will focus on timely and relevant issues facing the discipline. Conference sessions will address truth and reconciliation, diversity, equity, access and inclusion, environmental sustainability, and ethics.
💻 Fully Virtual
💳 Registration is not yet open.
Museum Connections Conference – May 18-19
With a mission statement to inspire tomorrow’s culture and tourism experience, Museum Connections is an international trade fair that focuses on the challenges museums and cultural institutions face, and the trends and innovations emerging in the sector to overcome them.
✈️ Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Paris
💻 Virtual attendance is also accommodated.
💳 Registration is open and free until April 4!
American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting – May 24 + June 7-9
AAM’s Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo is a large-scale event that brings culture sector professionals together for a program of presentations and workshops generated in collaboration with institutions and individuals from the sector. Their 2021 theme is Resilient, Together. This year’s program will offer a variety of virtual networking events and a new coaching pilot program that will match a select number of attendees with leaders and visionaries from the industry.
💻 Fully Virtual
💳 Registration is open!
- Members: members $195 until March 3, then $235
- Non-members: $295 until March 3, then $345
Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) Conference – May 13-28
ACM’s 2021 conference is aptly titled Interactivity: Care, Connect and Create Resilience. The conference will be comprised of skills-based training workshops to support resilience in both member and non-member organizations. For those who want more one-on-one interaction, networking and social events will weave through the conference schedule to support your mental and social needs as the pandemic continues.
💻 Fully Virtual
💳 Registration is not yet open.
- Individual registration: members $100, non-members $200
- Institutional registration (5 tickets) is available at a cost of $250 for member organizations
For 2021, AIC and SPNHC will host a joint annual meeting throughout the months of May and June. Typically, the AIC annual meeting focuses on tools and tactics for conservation and collection care. Similarly, the SPNHC annual meeting offers symposia and workshops to further the field of collections care.
This year’s meeting will build on these topics with discussion about social inequities and how they are represented in the culture sector. The meeting will present actionable next steps to transform the field and, hopefully, transform the world.
💻 Fully Virtual
💳 Registration is open!
- Member – $175
- Non-Member – $205
- Speaker – $125
- Student and Post-graduate Members – $105
Axiell Global Virtual User Conference – Early June
Axiell hosts an annual global user conference with content curated specifically for our users and other professionals in the culture sector. Industry leaders attend our event to:
- Network and share best practice with hundreds of library, museum, and archive professionals.
- Engage and learn from experts in collections management, conservation, curation, natural history, film archival, digital engagement and more!
- Exchange product-specific, technical and practical tips with other users of the same products.
- Get the latest updates on Axiell’s roadmaps, customer support and future plans.
- Influence Axiell’s future plans by providing input and feedback for our forward development.
💻 Fully Virtual
💳 Registration is not yet open but registration will be free for all attendees. Sign up to our newsletter for updates!
SITEM is an international exhibition of museums, places of culture, and tourism. This year’s conference will focus on three trends in the culture sector: cultural economy, internationalization, and cultural variety.
✈️ Carrousel du Louvre, Paris
💳 Registration opens in April 2021.
- Cultural, heritage, tourist and community institutions and sites: free
- Commercial companies: 75 €
- Students: 10 €
Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA) National Conference – June 7-10
This forward-thinking conference will explore the museum and gallery sector’s impact on creating the future of communities, ecologies and economies. The program offers conference tracks, plenary sessions, lightning talks, and awards.
✈️ National Gallery of Australia and National Convention Centre Canberra, Australia
💻 Virtual attendance is also accommodated.
💳 Registration is open!
- In person: $898 for AMaGA members, $1,187 for non-members (AUD)
- Virtual attendance: $300 for AMaGA members, $500 for non-members (AUD)
Association of Independent Museums (AIM) Conference 2021 – June 17-19
The Association of Independent Museums host an annual event for members in the UK. The 2020 event was cancelled following the Coronavirus outbreak and a date of 17-19 June 2021 was announced for this year’s conference. We’re still waiting for news on whether the in-person event will take place.
✈️ 💻 To be announced.
💳 Registration is not yet open.
Society of American Archivists (SAA) Annual Meeting – August 2-6
The SAA Annual Meeting is typically held in late summer in cities across America. Affordability and access are top concerns for the conference as well as social responsibility and diversity. Though their 2021 plans have not been fully announced at this time, you can expect an inclusive approach to the meeting.
💻 Fully Virtual
💳 Registration is not yet open.
Hosted by the University of Malta, this relatively new conference theorizes on the future of museums, discussing topics such as the impact of climate change, how to democratize public spaces, and the capacity for museums to be a catalyst for radical change. Proposals are welcomed from scholars and professionals in the field.
✈️ University of Malta Valletta Campus, Malta
💳 Registration is not yet open.
Archives and Records Association (ARA) UK and Ireland Conference 2021 – September 1-3
The Archives and Records Association UK & Ireland Conference 2021 will take place virtually, with the dates confirmed for 1-3 September. The conference is a must-attend for record-keeping professionals and boasts an exciting line up of industry leading speakers.
💻 Fully Virtual
💳 Registration is open! Visit their website for a full list of prices.
Museum Computer Network (MCN) Conference – Late 2021
MCN has been held every year since 1968. The event brings hundreds of culture sector professionals together. MCN quickly pivoted to a fully virtual event in 2020 which suggests a similar approach for 2021 but details have not yet been released.
💻 Went fully virtual in 2020
💳 Registration is not yet open.
Author of the Spectrum collections management standard, Collections Trust host an annual conference in the UK. We’re still waiting for news on their plans for 2021. In 2020, Collections trust moved their October Conference to a free online event.
💻 Went fully virtual in 2020
💳 Registration is not yet open.
Museums Association – Late 2021
As a member organisation for UK museums, Museum Association hosts an annual conference and exhibition each Autumn. We’re still waiting for news of their plans for 2021 but they went fully virtual in 2020.
💻 Went fully virtual in 2020
💳 Registration is not yet open.
Museums + Heritage Show – Postponed to 2022
One of the UK’s largest cultural sector conferences, the Museums + Heritage show has decided to postpone their in-person event to 2022 but will be providing a program of virtual sessions this year.
💻 Went fully virtual in 2020
💳 Registration is not yet open.
