Canadian Museums Association

The Canadian Museums Association (CMA), also known in French as the Association des musées canadiens, is a national nonprofit organization that represents and supports the Canadian museum and heritage sector. Its constituency includes national and regional museums, art galleries, science centres, aquariums, archives, historic sites, zoos, sports halls of fame, artist-run centres, and other institutions that preserve and interpret cultural and natural heritage. Members range from major metropolitan institutions to small community museums, giving the association a broad mandate that spans professional practice, public policy, education, collections stewardship, and public access. The organization was formally established in 1947 after several years of discussion about the need for a distinctly Canadian museum association. A visit to Canada by Sir Henry Miers, then president of the British Museums Association, in 1932 highlighted the comparatively weak condition of Canadian museums and helped stimulate interest in a national professional body. Plans were delayed by the Second World War. After the war, museum leaders renewed the initiative, arguing that Canadian museums needed an organization able to address national circumstances while maintaining cooperation with organizations in the United States and elsewhere. Representatives from 13 institutions met in Quebec City during the annual meeting of the American Association of Museums, and the association received a federal charter on 10 September 1947. CMA's mandate is to advance museum services in Canada, improve the welfare and administration of museums, and support the qualifications and professional practices of museum workers. It acts as a sector advocate before government and parliamentary committees, provides professional information and networking, publishes the bilingual bimonthly magazine Muse, and organizes national and specialized conferences. Its member services have also included insurance, awards, professional development, and policy guidance. The association administers Young Canada Works for the Department of Canadian Heritage, helping museums hire students and interns and giving participants experience in the heritage field. CMA has also played an important role in debates over Indigenous rights, museum authority, collections access, repatriation, and the interpretation of human remains and sacred objects. The controversy around The Spirit Sings exhibition at Calgary's Glenbow Museum in 1988 prompted a CMA task force on Indigenous involvement and museum practice. In partnership with the Assembly of First Nations, the association published Turning the Page in 1992, a report that addressed repatriation and related ethical questions. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action 67 and 68, issued in 2015, assigned the association prospective roles in reviewing museum policies against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and supporting reconciliation-related commemoration. With funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage, CMA subsequently developed the report Moved to Action: Activating UNDRIP in Canadian Museums, published in 2022. The association is governed by an elected board of directors and operates a full-service secretariat in Ottawa. It maintains relationships with national, provincial, territorial, and international heritage organizations, including ICOM Canada, the Canadian Art Museum Directors Organization, and the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums. CMA also organizes Canadian Museums Day on Parliament Hill, an advocacy and public-awareness event recognizing the social contribution of museums. Its role is that of a sector association and professional network rather than a consumer-facing commercial brand.

The Canadian Museums Association emerged from longstanding concern that Canada lacked a national organization capable of strengthening museum practice and representing Canadian institutions. In 1932, Sir Henry Miers, president of the British Museums Association, visited Canadian museums and reported that they were substantially behind institutions in the United States and much of Europe. Notes later incorporated into CMA's governing history indicate that an association was contemplated during the 1930s, but the Second World War postponed the effort. Interest revived after the war. Museum leaders wanted a body that could address Canadian legal, cultural, geographic, and institutional circumstances while still cooperating with American and international museum organizations. In 1946, Harry O. McCurry of the National Gallery of Canada expressed support for an independent Canadian association in correspondence with Alice Johannsen Turnham of the McGill University Museums. A group representing 13 museums met in Quebec City during the 42nd annual meeting of the American Association of Museums. The association received a federal charter from the Secretary of State on 10 September 1947. The founding group represented institutions including the National Museum of Canada, the Royal Ontario Museum, the National Gallery of Canada, McGill University Museums, the New Brunswick Museum, the Provincial Museum of Nova Scotia, and museums associated with public libraries and universities. The association subsequently developed as a professional and trade body for the museum field. Its work has included advocacy before Parliament and government departments, professional education, publications, conferences, networking, awards, insurance-related services, and support for employment programs. Since 1996, it has administered Young Canada Works for Canadian Heritage, helping museums and other heritage institutions provide student and internship placements. A major phase in CMA's history concerned Indigenous participation and the ethics of museum collections. The 1988 controversy over The Spirit Sings exhibition at the Glenbow Museum exposed tensions over the display of Indigenous cultural materials and the relationship between museums and Indigenous communities. CMA responded by creating a task force to examine Indigenous involvement, access to collections, and the interpretation and care of artifacts and human remains. In 1992, it worked with the Assembly of First Nations on Turning the Page, which offered recommendations on repatriating human remains and sacred objects. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 2015 Calls to Action gave the association a further national mandate. Call to Action 67 requested a federally supported review of museum policies and practices in collaboration with Indigenous peoples, including assessment against UNDRIP. Call to Action 68 called for cooperation on a reconciliation-focused commemoration funding program connected with Canada's 150th anniversary. In 2018, Canadian Heritage provided CMA with $680,948 for work on UNDRIP implementation in museums. The resulting report, Moved to Action: Activating UNDRIP in Canadian Museums, was published in 2022. CMA is federally incorporated, operates as a registered charity, and is governed by an elected board of directors. Its Ottawa secretariat supports a membership reported at nearly 2,000 and serves institutions across Canada. The association publishes the bilingual bimonthly Muse magazine, conducts national conferences and specialist events, and maintains formal or informal relationships with organizations such as ICOM Canada, the Canadian Art Museum Directors Organization, the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums, and provincial and territorial museum associations. It also presents Canadian Museums Day on Parliament Hill to highlight museums' contributions to public life. The organization continues to function as a national advocate and professional infrastructure provider for Canada's museum and heritage sector.

• 2022

  Moved to Action report released

  [1]Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org

  CMA published Moved to Action: Activating UNDRIP in Canadian Museums.

• 2018

  Canadian Heritage supports UNDRIP museum project

  [1]Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The federal Department of Canadian Heritage granted CMA $680,948 for a report and recommendations on UNDRIP implementation in Canadian museums.

• 2015

  CMA named in Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action

  [1]Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Calls to Action 67 and 68 identified prospective CMA roles in UNDRIP-related museum review and reconciliation-focused commemoration.

• 1996

  Young Canada Works administration begins

  [1]Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org

  CMA began administering the Department of Canadian Heritage's Young Canada Works program for museum and heritage-sector student and internship placements.

• 1992

  Turning the Page published

  [1]Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org

  CMA and the Assembly of First Nations issued recommendations concerning repatriation of Indigenous human remains and sacred objects.

• 1988

  Task force follows The Spirit Sings controversy

  [1]Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org

  CMA created a task force addressing Indigenous involvement in museums, collection access, and the treatment and interpretation of cultural materials and human remains.

• 1947

  Canadian Museums Association receives federal charter

  [1]Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Museum representatives meeting in Quebec City established the organization, which was chartered by the Secretary of State on 10 September.

• 1932

  Assessment of Canadian museums stimulates national association plans

  [1]Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org

  A visit by British Museums Association president Sir Henry Miers drew attention to the relative weakness of Canadian museum infrastructure and helped encourage the idea of a national professional association.

A national, bilingual professional association and advocacy body serving Canada's diverse museum and heritage community. CMA positions itself as a convenor, policy representative, capacity-builder, and source of professional guidance for institutions and practitioners across the country.

• Professional publication

  Muse

  Muse is CMA's bilingual bimonthly magazine for the museum and heritage community. It supports professional communication and sector awareness by providing a shared publication platform for issues affecting Canadian museums, museum workers, and related cultural institutions.

• Employment and training program · 1996

  Young Canada Works

  Administered by CMA for the Department of Canadian Heritage since 1996, Young Canada Works helps museums and heritage organizations hire summer students and interns. The program combines institutional staffing support with entry-level professional experience for participants seeking careers in the heritage field.

• Research report and policy guidance · 2022

  Moved to Action: Activating UNDRIP in Canadian Museums

  Published in 2022, Moved to Action translates the implications of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into recommendations for Canadian museums. It followed a federally supported CMA project responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 67.

• Museum ethics and repatriation report · 1992

  Turning the Page

  Produced jointly by CMA and the Assembly of First Nations in 1992, Turning the Page addressed the return of Indigenous human remains and sacred objects and helped shape Canadian discussion of museum responsibility, consultation, and repatriation.

• Canadian Museums Day

  Canada

  CMA hosts Canadian Museums Day on Parliament Hill as a public-awareness and advocacy initiative celebrating the contribution of museums to Canadian society.

  Outcome. The event provides a national platform for museums and museum professionals to engage parliamentarians and the public.

  Source
• UNDRIP activation in Canadian museums

  Canada

  CMA developed research, consultation, and recommendations to help Canadian museums respond to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.

  Outcome. The work culminated in the 2022 Moved to Action report.

  Source

• 2018

  Undertake national UNDRIP implementation reviewStrategy

  Background

  Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 67 requested a national review of museum policies and practices in collaboration with Indigenous peoples.

  Action taken

  With Department of Canadian Heritage support, CMA undertook research and developed recommendations on applying UNDRIP in museums.

  Aftermath

  The project produced Moved to Action: Activating UNDRIP in Canadian Museums in 2022.

  Federal project grant. 680948 CAD (2018 grant)

  Source

• 1992

  Publish joint repatriation recommendationsOther

  Background

  CMA and the Assembly of First Nations sought to address the return of Indigenous human remains and sacred objects held by museums.

  Action taken

  The partners published Turning the Page with recommendations for repatriation and related museum practice.

  Aftermath

  The report became an important reference point in Canadian museum discussions about Indigenous rights and collections stewardship.

  Source

• 1988

  Create a task force on Indigenous museum issuesStrategy

  Background

  The controversy surrounding The Spirit Sings exhibition raised concerns about Indigenous participation, access to collections, and the treatment of artifacts and human remains.

  Action taken

  CMA established a task force to assess museum policies and practices in these areas.

  Aftermath

  The initiative contributed to later sector discussion and to CMA's partnership with the Assembly of First Nations on Turning the Page.

  Source

• 2022

  CMA publishes Moved to Action[1]Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  CMA released Moved to Action: Activating UNDRIP in Canadian Museums, a report focused on applying Indigenous rights principles to museum practice.

• 2018

  Canadian Heritage funds CMA UNDRIP project[1]Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Department of Canadian Heritage awarded CMA funding to prepare research and recommendations on implementing UNDRIP in Canadian museums.

• 2015

  Truth and Reconciliation Commission identifies CMA roles[1]Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  Calls to Action 67 and 68 called for collaboration involving CMA on museum policy, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and reconciliation-related commemoration.

• 1992

  CMA and Assembly of First Nations publish Turning the Page[1]Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The joint report addressed museum responsibilities concerning repatriation of Indigenous human remains and sacred objects.

• 1988

  The Spirit Sings controversy prompts museum-policy task force[1]Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Debate surrounding the Glenbow Museum exhibition The Spirit Sings led CMA to establish a task force examining Indigenous participation, collections access, and the treatment of artifacts and human remains.

• 1947

  Canadian Museums Association receives federal charter[1]Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The association was formally chartered by the Secretary of State on 10 September 1947 after museum representatives had renewed postwar efforts to create a national Canadian body.

1. 1Canadian Museums Associationen.wikipedia.org