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Museums Make New York: The State of Culture The Museum Association of New York's flagship annual conference brings together hundreds of museum professionals, public officials, funders, tourism leaders, educators, and industry partners from across New York State for three days of learning, collaboration, and civic dialogue. Participants learn from approaches at other museums and build relationships with colleagues facing similar challenges. Peer-led sessions and workshops address museum practice across organizational capacity, workforce, community engagement, interpretation, and collections. Participants can bring these ideas and connections back to their teams to inform decisions and strengthen their institutions. Bringing colleagues together across regions, disciplines, and institutional sizes also strengthens museums' collective voice in New York and nationally. Why now? Strong museums depend on strong professional communities. Museums' work depends on shared knowledge and collaboration across institutions and disciplines. Federal threats to museum independence and funding underscore the importance of statewide coordination and New York's leadership. Published in August 2026, the New York Study of Public and Private Museums is the first comprehensive statewide examination of the field. The study documents a field encompassing nearly 1,200 chartered museums, employing 33,000 people, and welcoming more than 47 million visitors annually. It also finds that 96% of New Yorkers consider museums educational assets in their communities. This unprecedented resource allows us to make a more specific case for public investment, grounded in both museums' contributions and their documented needs. The 2027 conference is an opportunity to put that evidence to work. We will gather during the state legislative session and negotiations over the 2027–28 State Budget, when decisions about public funding are taking shape. Together, we will continue to discuss how the study informs planning, fundraising, and advocacy—and help elected officials and public agencies understand what museums need. Registration is open
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Preliminary ScheduleThe preliminary schedule is subject to change. Further details will be shared as they are confirmed and fully detailed in the conference app.
Empire State Plaza, AlbanyThe 2027 conference will take place at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center and New York State Museum in downtown Albany. The Plaza brings together state government, cultural institutions, public art, and gathering spaces—a fitting setting to consider museums' place in New York's civic and cultural life. With the State Capitol and Legislative Office Building connected through a concourse, attendees can combine conference participation with the Arts Rally and meetings with legislators during the 2027–28 State Budget negotiations. Conference events include a Wednesday evening event at the Corning Tower Observation Deck and Thursday night at the New York State Museum. Attendees can also explore the Empire State Plaza Art Collection and local museums. Further local details to come. Visit the Empire State Plaza website for directions, parking, public transportation, accessibility information, and maps. Who Will Be There?For decades, MANY's annual conference has brought together hundreds of colleagues across disciplines, museum sizes, and regions, alongside creative partners, students, and community collaborators. Through peer-led sessions and practical workshops, the conference provides a forum to share experience and connect museum staff and trustees with colleagues whose expertise can inform their work. The conference typically welcomes 300–400 participants committed to public service across the arts, humanities, culture, history, and science. MANY is committed to an inclusive and accessible conference experience, grounded in respect for all participants. Prejudiced or exclusionary behavior will be neither normalized nor tolerated. We welcome all inquiries regarding accessibility, mobility, and other accommodation needs, including linguistic, cognitive, sensory, gender-expressive, religious, parental, and medical considerations. Supporting full participation across the field is central to this work. |
Arts RallyMANY's conference is timed to coincide with the March 24, 2027 Arts Rally, an independently organized gathering that brings artists, cultural organizations, advocates, and legislators together in Albany to support public funding for arts and culture. We encourage conference attendees to participate and arrange meetings with their legislators. This is an opportunity to share the experiences behind the study's findings and advocate for support that meets the needs of museums of every size, discipline, and region. MANY and peers will share rally details and information to help coordinate participation as plans are confirmed. Participation in the rally is free. Plenary PresentationsPlenaries bring together leaders from across New York's museum and cultural policy landscape in sessions aimed at surfacing the structural, political, and economic conditions impacting museums—and the work ahead for those seeking to sustain and strengthen New York's museums and cultural infrastructure. Meals will be provided at each of the four plenary sessions. Share Your Work: Call for Session ProposalsBuilding on the plenary framework, the conference will feature peer-selected breakout sessions led by museum professionals, cultural leaders, and partners from across New York State. We invite proposals that bring practical experience and multiple perspectives to the challenges facing museums. Topics may address community belonging, workforce equity and sustainability, organizational capacity, interpretation and collections, or public support and civic impact. Timeline
Interested in getting involved? Email conference@nysmuseums.org |
Sponsorship
MANY's sponsorship opportunities align with Advocate and Industry Membership levels. Further or custom opportunities are available. Any questions? Email director@nysmuseums.org.