About

Established in 1972, the Ontario Museum Association (OMA) is a not-for-profit member organization that represents more than 700 museums, galleries, and historic sites, 11,000 museum professionals, and 35,000 museum volunteers across Ontario.

Who we are

Mission and Vision

Values

Goals and Roles

Mission

The Ontario Museum Association is the leading professional organization advancing a strong, collaborative and inclusive museum sector that is vital to community life and the well-being of Ontarians.

Vision

The Ontario Museum Association strengthens capacity among institutions and individuals active in Ontario’s museum sector, facilitates excellence and best practices, and improves the communication and collaboration of its membership. The Association advocates for the important role of Ontario’s museums to society, working with all stakeholders, related sectors and industries, and other professional organizations.

Values

Diversity, Inclusivity & Access

We believe the OMA and our members must engage with the diversity of people and groups represented in our communities, and facilitate access to all areas of museum work, including representation on our governing councils and among our staff.

Adaptability & Efficiency

We value being timely and effective in all our work, and the ability to respond to new opportunities that will advance the interests of our membership and enhance the position of Ontario’s museum sector.

Innovation & Improvement

We embrace forward thinking, challenging assumptions and considering new approaches. As thought leaders, we seek to provide progressive and inspiring resources and services for the sector, resulting in museums that are recognized locally, nationally and internationally for their work.

Community & Collaboration

We believe in a united museum sector, and in this work, value the participation and engagement of our members. Our work and the work of our members is improved by meaningful collaboration and partnerships. We also value the pursuit of new relationships and new models of collaboration within the museum sector, the culture sector and with other sectors, industries and businesses.

Service Excellence

We seek to be supportive and responsive to our membership’s needs through continuous investment and improvement in the services and resources provided. In our work we will be transparent and accountable.

Goals

Recommend and develop, in collaboration with members and funders, new museum funding models that are relevant, adequate, equitable, and accountable.

Strengthen skills, knowledge, innovation and excellence in museum work.

Advance sector position through advocacy, research and stakeholder relations.

Ensure the vitality and relevance of the OMA.

Roles

Advocate

Create positive change for museums by proactively positioning and representing museums with stakeholders and funders.

Convenor

The nexus of a strong network, building a more collaborative, professional and connected sector.

Professional Body

Provide professional development programs fostering continued professionalization of the field.

Thought Leader

Advance the museum sector through research and the promotion of internationally-recognized best practices.

What we do

Advocacy

The Ontario Museum Association works with its members to ensure a relevant and sustainable museum sector for the benefit of Ontario residents and our global community.

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Workshops & webinars

Various workshops and webinars are held throughout the year. Please consult the events page for upcoming events.

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Certificate in Museum
Studies (CMS)

The Ontario Museum Association Certificate in Museum Studies (CMS) is one of the only museum studies training programs offered on a part-time basis for museum workers.

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Strategic Plan

Towards 2025: The Ontario Museum Association’s Strategic Plan 2016-2021

Since 2013, the Ontario Museum Association has been actively involved in a future visioning project for Ontario’s museum sector.

Led by a Task Force of museum leaders, supported by the OMA, the work resulted in a forward-thinking vision for the sector known as Ontario’s Museums 2025: Strategic Vision and Action Plan.

This work was informed by broad consultation with and participation of Ontario’s museum sector. The consultations surfaced current issues and trends faced by museums and identified the central role of the Ontario Museum Association in advocating for and supporting the sector.

Concurrent to this work, the province also developed its first Culture Strategy. Ontario’s Museums 2025 was carefully considered by OMA’s Council in developing the OMA’s own Strategic Plan for 2016-2021.

The resulting strategic plan Towards 2025: the Ontario Museum Association’s Strategic Plan establishes priorities for the OMA to address from Ontario’s Museums 2025’s 4 themes, 16 outcomes and 10 actions.

At the same time, this Strategic Plan builds on the current strengths of the OMA, and the important work undertaken as part of the previous plan, Reinforcing Relevance.