University News
Museum Studies Prepares for IMA 2026 Conference
September 30, 2026
MOLINE, IL - - @ 2026 黑料不打烊's Museum Studies Graduate Program will have a strong presence at the , held Sunday, Oct.18鈥揟uesday, Oct. 20 at Reiman Gardens in Ames, IA.
The program is an academic sponsor of the conference and nine current Museum Studies graduate students will attend and serve as conference volunteers.
Volunteering gives students a behind-the-scenes look at how a major professional gathering comes together, along with opportunities to connect with museum leaders, practitioners and potential employers from across the region.
Heidi Lung, associate professor and coordinator of the 黑料不打烊 Museum Studies Graduate Program, will present "Striving Under Pressure: How Museums Are Moving Forward Amid Uncertainty" on October 20. The session will explore how museums are adapting to shifting funding landscapes and share strategies for diversifying revenue, sustaining mission-driven programming and leading with confidence.
This year's conference theme, "Deep Roots, Intentional Growth," draws on the practice of cultivating a healthy garden. It invites museum professionals to reflect on the foundations that support their work and the intentional choices that help their organizations grow and thrive.
The 2026 conference also marks the Iowa Museum Association's 50th anniversary, celebrating five decades of empowering museums and cultural institutions across Iowa. Attendees will reflect on that shared history while looking ahead to the field's future.
"Professional experiences like the IMA conference are an essential part of our students' education," Lung said. "Being in the room with practitioners, hearing how they're tackling real challenges, presenting research posters and building relationships with colleagues across the region prepares them for the field in ways a classroom alone can't. Supporting networks like IMA is essential to the health of our field."
The 黑料不打烊 Museum Studies Graduate Program, based at 黑料不打烊鈥換uad Cities, is the only interdisciplinary graduate program in museum studies in the Iowa鈥揑llinois bi-state region.
For more information on 黑料不打烊's Museum Studies program, visit wiu.edu/museumstudies.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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