CAM 2026 - Reframing
Reframing encapsulates the tangible nature of museum work–what we restore, revive, and rebuild–and the intangible nature of museum work–where we reflect, interpret, educate, and shift perspectives. On a larger scale, REFRAMING gives us the power to redefine who we are, why we’re important, and how we connect with and show up for our community. Reframing is resistance and resilience. Registration for CAM 2026 Reframing is now open! Register today.
Conference Program
All case studies, roundtable discussions, panel sessions, and creative stations are included in conference registration. In addition to the main conference program, you can enhance your experience with optional add-ons like pre-conference workshops and tours. Each of these experiences requires additional registration with limited availability. There are additional fees associated with most. More information about each experience can be found below. As well as in the 2026 Preliminary Program*.
*The preliminary program is subject to change.
Please contact engagement@calmuseums.org with questions about the conference program.
CAM has made arrangements for several local tours and experiences hosted by members of CAM’s 2026 Host Committee and are subject to change. Museum tours will take place on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, unless otherwise noted. Transportation and meals are not included unless otherwise noted in the tour description. Pricing for these additional experiences TBA.
Westside Tour | hosted by Hammer Museum, Skirball Cultural Center, and Getty Museum
Spend a day on LA’s Westside! Start the morning at the Hammer Museum with breakfast and a sneak-peek of Five Centuries of Works on Paper: The Grunwald Center at 70 exhibition and the Grunwald Study Center at the Hammer with Naoko Takahatake, director and chief curator of the Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts, before the doors open; enjoy lunch and an afternoon tour of Noah’s Ark and the surrounding Bloom Garden at the Skirball Cultural Center; and finish the day with curator led tours of the Getty’s Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-85 and How to Be a Guerrilla Girl exhibitions followed by a no-host sunset happy hour at Trellis, the Getty’s new bar. Shuttle service provided between all museums.
Reframing Relationships: Collaborative Collections Stewardship at the Autry’s Parks Research Center | hosted by Autry Museum of the American West
The Autry’s Parks Research Center holds over 600,000 collection items, including 230,000 Native American works representing Indigenous communities from the Arctic to the southernmost tip of South America. To build trust and reframe relationships, the Autry has committed to museum-wide consultation and collaboration with Native nations and Indigenous communities including collections stewardship. Attendees will receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the 100,000 sq. ft. facility including a Ceremonial Garden, a Community Room, and collections care spaces.
La Brea Tar Pits Insider Tour | hosted by La Brea Tar Pits & Museum
A guided tour which offers visitors an exclusive exploration into Ice Age Los Angeles. Guests will be given behind-the-scenes access while learning about the story of the Ice Age extinction and the history of La Brea. Guests will get up-close to landmarks including the iconic Columbian mammoth sculptures and excavation sites within Hancock Park. Participants will engage with La Brea scientists and get hands-on experience sorting real fossils and learning about the excavation process.
Museum of Jurassic Technology: A Self-Guided Tour | hosted by the Museum of Jurassic Technology
Join colleagues at the Museum of Jurassic Technology for a self-guided tour that will end with an informal chat over tea with the Museum of Jurassic Technology’s Director, David Wilson.
A Guided Tour of CAAM | hosted by California African American Museum
This tour includes walkthroughs of two exhibitions currently on view at the California African American Museum in Expo Park. Attendees will be led through these spaces with a Gallery-Guide.
The Broad, After Hours Tour | hosted by The Broad (Wednesday, March 11, 2026)
Join The Broad for a special after‑hours guided tour of Robert Therrien: This is a Story, an exhibition that explores the artist’s uncanny transformation of everyday domestic forms into monumental and imaginative sculptural worlds. Led by Broad Curator Ed Schad, this tour offers attendees an intimate look at Therrien’s artistic process, themes, and enduring influence. Please note that this tour is happening on Wednesday, March 11.
Curator-Led Tour of MONUMENTS | hosted by The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (Saturday, March 14, 2026)
Join MOCA's Senior Curator and co-curator of MONUMENTS, Bennett Simpson, for a guided tour of the critically-acclaimed exhibition MONUMENTS. Please note that this tour is happening on Saturday, March 14.
All workshops will take place on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at the Omni Hotel. There will also be one Preconference Tour available this day. Details are subject to change. Workshops will be available for an additional cost, and are not included in conference registration. Pre-registration is required. Attendees are responsible for transportation and meals, unless otherwise noted. Workshop registrants will be sent more details in advance of the workshop.
Making Time for What Matters: Practical Strategies for Donor Retention
11:00AM–1:30PM | Cost: $35 | Location: TBA
Think you don’t have time for donor outreach? Investing in donor retention isn’t just cost-effective, it’s essential for museum sustainability. This hands-on session explores often-overlooked retention strategies and how to integrate them into your daily work. You’ll receive practical guidance and the beginnings of a donor retention plan you can tailor to your institution.
Ami Davis, Museum Fundraising Consultant, Ami Davis Consulting
Phil Kohlmetz, Fundraising Counsel and Non-Profit Consultant
Get Ready! Disaster Response Scenarios
12:00PM–3:00PM | Cost: Free, registration is required. Supported in part by funding from California State Library | Location: TBA
This workshop, facilitated by “Ready – Or Not” consultants, will take attendees through interactive tabletop exercises focused on disaster planning, response and salvage. Attendees will have the chance to collaborate with their peers, share their knowledge and experience, and learn new approaches and strategies for responding to disasters affecting collections, facilities, and human safety.
Mario Gallardo, Emergency Preparedness Consultant, NEDCC | Northeast Document Conservation Center
Jason Partida, Emergency Preparedness Consultant, NEDCC | Northeast Document Conservation Center
Julie Bly DeVere, Emergency Preparedness Consultant, NEDCC | Northeast Document Conservation Center
Best Year Yet 2026: a Personal and Professional Goal-Setting Retreat
10:00AM–1:00PM | Cost: $35 | Location: TBA
Feeling burned out or unsure how to move forward in your museum work? This reflective, interactive retreat helps you reset, reconnect with your values, and set meaningful goals for the year ahead. Using coaching tools, mindfulness, and peer connection, you’ll leave with clarity, renewed energy, and an actionable plan to guide your next chapter.
Kate Merrick, Principal, ExposeYourMuseum
4x5: Reframing your museum’s communications for social media
10:00AM–2:00PM, lunch break on your own | Cost: $15 | Location: TBA
Optimizing information for social media is a constant exercise in reframing—from translating complex concepts to a general audience, to optimizing content for each platform. Using a “master class” format, this workshop will focus on strategies for connecting with online audiences. Perfect for museum professionals looking to elevate their social media, marketing, & communications strategies.
Madeline Duffy, Social Media Specialist, J.Paul Getty Museum
Tristan Bravinder, Social Media Manager, J. Paul Getty Trust
Melissa Casas, Social Media Producer, J. Paul Getty Trust
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