Directory of Heritage Organizations and Foundations

Museums Alberta is the trade name of the Alberta Museums Association (adopted 1997), established in 1971 to serve museums and their paid and unpaid workers. The Association has both society and charitable status and is governed by an 8-12 member board, which meets 4-6 times per year. The current board comprises: Doug Leonard, President; Erika Foley, Vice President; Lori Ann Perlin, Secretary; Ron Ulrich, Treasurer; Leslie Latta-Guthrie, Past President; Ian Barnes; Allan Goddard; Mike Ross; Eva Stanley; Larissa Stetzenko; Helen Wilson. The Association has over 700 institutional and individual members.

In 1984, the Government of Alberta awarded the Association lotteries funds and professional staff were hired to develop programs. The Mission Statement of Museums Alberta is: To promote understanding, access and excellence within Alberta's museums for the benefit of society. This is accomplished by a range of programs including grants (Special Projects Grants Program, Regional Museums Grants Program, Researching Communities Grant Program and Grant-in-Aid), training and professional development, museum advisory services, publications and media campaigns. The Association publishes Alberta Museums Review biannually and has just re-introduced its newsletter In Form. The Learning Calendar provides a range of workshops in the various areas of museum practice, seminars/symposia for mid- to advanced museum professionals, and opportunities for peer learning and mentoring including Museum Interest Groups. The fall annual conference (September/October) is a vehicle for collaborative learning and networking.

The Association has been a leader in the establishment of standards of museum practice and in partnering with like organizations to promote learning through museums. Initiatives include Heritage School Fairs (partnering with the Social Studies Council of the Alberta Teacher's Association and The CRB Foundation), and development of the concepts for the Alberta Heritage Online Project and the Youth Heritage Program. The Association promotes the importance of museums as tourism attractions and partnered with Alberta Community Development in the development of the Alberta-Montana Guide to Museums, Parks and Historic Sites, and the accompanying multi-media campaign. Currently, the Association is undertaking a national pilot of its Museum Achievement Program, funded by the federal government's Museum Assistance Program.