2016 AAM MuseumExpo Recap

The exhibit entrance of the 2016 AAM MuseumExpo

Over 6,000 museum professionals attended this year’s American Alliance of Museum Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo. ASA was represented by Connecticut-based personal property appraiser John A. Wood, ASA, Maryland-based personal property appraiser Genice R. Lee, ASA, and Jennifer Schleining, Accreditation and Reaccreditation services specialist from ASA’s National Office.

The MuseumExpo brunch kicked off the event with live music, giveaways, and extensive networking opportunities. Attendees were then redirected to meeting areas where numerous seminars and demonstrations took place. Speakers ranging from political activists to creators of television programs gave more than 698 presentations during the conference. Robert M. Edsel, author of Monuments Men, was amongst the many memorable guest speakers that attended. In his segment he discussed the success of his novel and the impact it had on society. The novel acknowledges unidentified heroes who saved art and cultural treasures during World Word II and how they helped preserve it. He closed his segment by stating, “I challenge all of you to become advocates for the return of artworks to their rightful owner. We most honor those, both past and present, who safeguard our cultural heritage in times of war.”

More than 294 exhibitors from across the region, both new and seasoned, participated in AAM, many offering hands-on interactions with their products and services. Attendees were able to try virtual reality headsets or watch live art being created. Exhibitors received positive reviews from attendees, who said, “You can’t find this information anywhere else.” Others said, “This was the most successful conference by far.”

Jennifer Schleining speaks with AAM attendees about the “Find an Appraiser” tool

ASA volunteers and staff spent the majority of their time speaking to attendees about the criteria needed to become an appraiser, and the importance of having an accredited appraiser when valuing pieces. Our exhibit’s main attraction was the “Find an Appraiser” tool that is featured on ASA’s homepage. This tool, which is open to the public, can help anyone searching for an appraiser with ASA membership by discipline and location. Several museum professionals say that they inform the public about our tool and have redirected them to ASA. Users tell us, “We love your tool! It makes it easier for us to see which appraisers are in our area versus relying on an open search engine.”

The conference was a huge success—well-organized and filled with informative presentations and networking opportunities. One satisfied attendee put it best, saying, “Everything is evolving and we must evolve with it. This conference is a great way to find new resources to help you strategize on how to grow and compete.”

To view photos from the conference click here.