About CAM

To support the success of California museums and their communities, our key programs and services include: professional development programs, including an annual conference and regional workshops that address best practices and trends; CAM eNews, which is distributed every two weeks to thousands of subscribers; studies and reports; an active advocacy program that monitors legislation and spearheads strategic initiatives to support funding sources; and special initiatives that promote provide leadership in important issues affecting the field. Much of CAM’s work is led by Member Committees that actively involve members of the association.

CAM supports over 1200 individual, business and institutional members within our association. Our institutional members are located throughout the state of California and range in size, scope, and discipline. They include historical societies, cultural centers, art museums, botanical gardens, science centers, tribal museums, zoos, aquariums, and children’s museums. Our business members assist the museum field in various ways and can be found organized by service type in our Business Directory.

We work collaboratively with many statewide and national partners to achieve shared goals, including the California Arts Council, California State Parks, California Humanities, the California State Library, California Natural Resources Agency, the California Department of Education, the California Preservation Program, Exhibit Envoy, the Western Museums Association, the American Association of Museums, and the Association for State and Local History.

In January 2021, CAM's Board of Directors approved a Racial Equity Statement and workplan to outline our commitment and actions to foster a culture of anti-racism and inclusion. Read the Statement

CAM has joined the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and other national, regional, and state museum associations in denouncing the violent and racist actions on January 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol. Read the Statement

In November 2021, CAM's Board of Directors approved an Equity Action Plan to better serve underrepresented groups within the museum field and to support museums in their efforts to become equitable. Review the Plan