Due to the continued spread of COVID-19 the 2021 Annual Business Meeting will be held March 30, 2021 at 11am Via Zoom. More details will be published throughout the coming weeks.

We hope to see you there!

Like so many other conferences and meetings, we had to cancel our annual in-person business meeting and conference this past March. It was important to us that we continue to show support of our museum colleagues and institutions and continue to offer opportunities for professional growth and camaraderie. 

Also like so many other conferences and meetings, we've gone virtual! We owe many thanks to our session presenters and facilitators for their willingness to convert their in-person conference sessions to virtual sessions. 

All of these sessions, one a month starting October 14, 2020 through February, 2021will be online through the Zoom platform. These sessions are FREE to members! If you need to join or renew your membership, please visit the Membership page. 

Click HERE to visit the events page to register now and learn more about each session. For questions or ideas for future sessions, contact Angie Albright, Professional Development Chair, at arkansasmuseums@gmail.com or call 479-444-0066.

• Outstanding Achievement in Education: MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, Reading Brigade
• Outstanding Achievement in Exhibitions (Budget under $150,000): Historic Cane Hill Museum, Men of Earth: 19th Century Potters of Northwest Arkansas
• Outstanding Achievement in Exhibitions (Budget over $150,000): Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, Instruments of Faith
• Outstanding Achievement in Media: Calico Rock Museum, Calico Rock Museum Mobile Application
• Outstanding Achievement in Collections Care Conservation: Arkansas National Guard Museum, Weapons Conservation Lab
• Graduate Student of the Year: Alex Soulard, UA Little Rock
• Outstanding Museum Volunteer of the Year (tie):  Elizabeth Colclasure, Old State House Museum and Henry Freeman, Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
• Distinguished Museum Professional of the Year: Dr. Rachel Miller, Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas

Congratulations to the museums that are slowly reopening. We hope things are going well for you and that you are having an easy transition.

http://www.arkansasmuseums.org/Arkansas-Museum-Closures-and-Updates

Closed:

Arkansas Arts Center

AGFC Nature Centers (state wide)

Calico Rock Museum and Visitor Center

Clinton House Museum - closed for at least 2 weeks

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art - Closing March 16 - March 31

Curran Hall visitor center

Heifer Village and Urban Farm March 13-20

MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History March 13 - March 29

Shiloh Museum of Ozark History March 16 - end of April

State Capitol

Canceling Programs and Tours:

Arkansas Museum of Discovery - Open but limiting simultaneous attendance to 200

Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources - suspending all programing until May 13

Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas - Suspending public programs, open to the public

CALS - all programs canceled

Central High - all programs canceled

As you are aware, the world is the midst of a coronavirus outbreak. Since the World Health Organizationhas declared a world pandemic and there are reported cases in Arkansas with all likelihood that there will be more, the AMA Board has decided to postpone the 2020 annual meeting.

The AMA Board has been staying up to date on the latest developments and for the safety and wellbeing of our members, and our home communities, we feel it prudent to not gather at DeGray Lake Resort State Park March 30 – April 1 as planned.

We are currently investigating alternatives including, but not limited to, re-scheduling the annual meeting, having a shortened annual meeting, or having a virtual meeting. Please bear with us as we work through these alternatives while continuing to consider the future course of this virus in our communities during this rapidly evolving situation.

If you have made lodging reservations for the annual meeting you will need to individually cancel. We ask for your patience regarding refunds since we are pursuing rescheduling the meeting and would be able to just transfer your registration. 

We will continue to provide updates through our website, emails, and social media platforms. If you have individual concerns, please email, arkansasmuseums@gmail.com.