American Alliance of Museums 2026 Annual Meeting
Philadelphia, PA
I attended the American Alliance of Museums’ 2026 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. This was my first time at the annual AAM conference, and I was thrilled to spend three days surrounded by fellow museum professionals. I attended thirteen conference sessions, visited four of Philadelphia’s best museums, explored the MuseumExpo, and generally had an amazing time being surrounded by several thousand fellow museum enthusiasts!
Several of the conference sessions provided me with ideas to bring back to the Everson. The presenters of “Low Carbon Footprint Exhibitions” shared how to design and install exhibitions while being conscious of the environmental impact exhibitions can have, while “School is in session… in the Museum! Re-Imagining Museum-Based Learning” was an inspiring look at how the New York Historical engages with thousands of 6th grade students every year. I learned how project management software can help track tasks and assist with collaboration across many museum departments and listened to inspiring stories about museums working closely with Indigenous communities.
One of the most unique parts of AAM is the MuseumExpo, which features hundreds of exhibitors showcasing their products and services designed specifically for the museum industry. At the Expo, I learned about everything from new casework designs to different traveling exhibition services to innovative art storage solutions.
I returned to Syracuse after attending AAM feeling revitalized and excited to take on new challenges and implement several of the ideas I learned while at the conference. I am deeply thankful for the CLRC’s financial support, which made attending the conference possible.
Steffi Chappell, Director of Curatorial Affairs
Everson Museum of Art
Are you interested in being our next Professional Development Award recipient? Check out the award page for the rules & requirements!
