MUSEUM TRUSTEE ASSOCIATION
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About Us

The Museum Trustee Association (MTA) is the only organization dedicated to providing ongoing board education programs, services and resources for the special needs of museum trustees and senior staff. Museum trustees are elected to govern institutions voluntarily. There are nearly 75,000 museum trustees in the United States; they set policy, ensure funding and oversee the management of their institutions, and in many cases are almost entirely untrained. The moral and legal obligations of museum trustees are complex, and in many respects, unique to the museum world.

The Association was formed in 1971 as a committee of the American Association of Museums (now known as the American Alliance of Museums).  Time revealed that the differences of focus, responsibility and interest between museum professionals and volunteer boards of directors would be better served by a separate non-profit organization.  The Museum Trustee Association was formed in 1986 and received its federal IRS 501(c)(3) status in 1991.

MTA is governed by an elected Board of Directors chosen to represent diverse regions of the United States, Canada and Mexico, a variety of museum disciplines and sizes, and wide-ranging areas of expertise in trusteeship.  All are current or former museum trustees and serve on the MTA board without pay. Our Association leader and board members offer a broad-based perspective on new initiatives, current issues and best governance practices in the museum field.

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MTA Supports and Advises its Members as they:​
  • Set policy
  • Allocate resources
  • Raise funds
  • Partner with management
  • Make themselves available to assist in their areas of individual expertise
  • Make strategic plans and decisions
  • Set goals
  • Evaluate organizational performance
  • Carry out top personnel decisions
  • Represent the museum as community spokespersons

Join or Donate


Institutional Membership
Patron Membership
Friend Membership
and Donation Options

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​
​Members of the MTA automatically receive
​the association's monthly emailed newsletter,
MTA E-News, and may also take advantage of
​access to archived issues!

​Contact our team


Museum Trustee Association
211 East Lombard Street, Suite 179
Baltimore, MD 21202-6102
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​  [email protected]

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​   (410) 402-0954

© Copyright 2023 Museum Trustee Association. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • About us
    • Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • Current Members >
      • Institutional Members
      • Individual Members
    • Contact
  • Membership
    • Types >
      • Institutions
      • Patrons
      • Friends
    • Benefits
    • Member Spotlights >
      • Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
      • Mingei International Museum
      • Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
      • Heard Museum
      • Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
  • News
  • Events
    • Philadelphia 2025
    • Tucson 2024 >
      • Forum
    • Atlanta 2024 >
      • Forum
  • Resources
    • MTA On-Demand
    • Templates for Trustees
    • Tips for Trustees
    • IDEA Resources & Information
    • Member Resource Library
  • Donate