TAM 2025 Austin | Bridging the Past and Future
Daytime Programming for the TAM Annual Meeting will be held at the AT&T Conference Center. Evening Receptions are graciously hosted by local cultural institutions: LBJ Presidential Library, Bullock Texas State History Museum, Texas Science & Natural History Museum, and The Contemporary Austin.
Event Details
TAM 2025 Austin
April 6-9, 2025
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS
The Texas Association of Museums (TAM) is excited to host our 2025 Annual Conference in Austin from April 6th - 9th. Inspired by the city’s iconic bridges, the theme of TAM 2025 is “Bridging the Past & Future,” and we will gather to commemorate our rich 50 year history and look to the future.
Applications for TAM 2025 TAMMIE and WILDER awards are open until February 1, 2025. Visit the link below to apply.
https://www.texasmuseums.org/tam-awards
The Texas Association of Museums (TAM) Annual Meeting has been the cornerstone of Texas' museum community for nearly fifty years. As the largest gathering of museum professionals in the state, this premier event offers a unique opportunity to connect with a vibrant and ever-expanding audience of museum enthusiasts.
Please review the FAQs below for more information.
INDEX
Dates & Location
Rates and Registration
Programming
Scholarships & Volunteers
Exhibitors, Sponsors, & Advertisers
Academic Showcase Competition
Online registration is now open!
TAM members receive a discounted rate! Not a TAM member? Join Now!
DATES & LOCATION
What are the dates and location of TAM's 2025 Annual Meeting?
The TAM 2025 Annual Meeting will take place April 6-9 in Austin, Texas. Take a deeper look into Austin with their Austin Visitors Guide.
What is the location of the TAM 2024 Annual Meeting?
Daytime Programming for the TAM Annual Meeting will be held at the AT&T Conference Center. Evening Receptions are graciously hosted by local cultural institutions: LBJ Presidential Library, Bullock Texas State History Museum, Texas Science & Natural History Museum, and The Contemporary Austin.
What is the TAM conference hotel?
The TAM Conference headquarters is the AT&T Conference Center. Reserve your room online at a discounted rate of $239/night available until March 6, 2025 or the hotel block is sold out. Book your room here: Hotel Reservations Page
Shuttles will be available for evening events to LBJ Presidential Library, Texas Science & Natural History Museum, and The Contemporary Austin.
Why is the hotel rate higher than normal for TAM?
We understand that the rate of $239 per night for the AT&T Hotel & Conference Center is higher than in previous years. While you may be considering off-property accommodations, we’d like to highlight a few key factors to keep in mind.
Parking: The AT&T Conference Center offers self-parking at just $21 per night, whereas less expensive hotels, starting at $203 per night, charges $60 per night for parking.
Transportation: Please note that there will be no shuttle service provided from off-site hotels. Additionally, with heavy traffic and UT student congestion, the commute from downtown hotels to the General Session each morning would take approximately 15-20 minutes.
RATES & REGISTRATION
Is there Early Bird Registration? When does it end?
Yes. TAM offers an Early Bird Registration, starting December 17, 2024 with the deadline of January 31, 2025.
What are registration options & rates for TAM 2024?
Full Meeting
Full Meeting registration includes access to all sessions, networking activities, advocacy training on Wednesday, and all evening events.
You may choose to purchase tickets for additional add-ons, including Tours, Workshops, and Evening Event Plus-Ones. Visit the add-on webpage for rates and registration links.
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Member Regular Rate - $575
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Non-Member Regular Rate - $725
Single Day
Single Day (1-day) registration includes access to all sessions, networking activities, and any free events happening only on that day.
You may choose to purchase tickets for additional add-ons (not limited to your single-day selection), including Tours, Workshops, and Evening Event Plus-Ones. Visit the add-on webpage for rates and registration links.
Single Day registration is available for Monday and Tuesday only. Wednesday’s advocacy training is open to full conference registration attendees only.
Are there discounts available?
TAM members receive a discounted rate! Not a TAM member? Join now!
Speakers and sponsors: please contact admin@texasmuseums.org for your discount codes.
How do I register?
You will need to register using our online registration platform here. Select the conference registration option that you would like and that applies to your membership status. Fill out the necessary information for registration and head to check out. You may pay by credit card on the website, or logged in TAM members can select an invoice to pay by check.
Reminder: All TAM members must be logged in to their member profile to receive member pricing and benefits. If you have any questions or trouble logging in, please contact admin@texasmuseums.org or sarah@optinexperts.com for assistance.
What is the cancellation / refund policy for TAM 2025?
Cancellations made in writing on or before March 1, 2025 will be refunded, minus a $100.00 processing fee. Cancellations March 2 and on will not be refunded. No-shows will not be refunded. Please contact TAM (admin@texasmuseums.org) for further information or if you have any questions. Refunds may not be processed until after the Annual Meeting.
Is there a Student Discount?
Yes! Please contact admin@texasmuseums.org to inquire about your student discount. Proof of student status will be required.
PROGRAMMING
What is the theme of TAM 2025?
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS
The Texas Association of Museums (TAM) is excited to host our 2025 Annual Conference in Austin from April 6th - 9th. Inspired by the city’s iconic bridges, the theme of TAM 2025 is “Bridging the Past & Future,” and we will gather to commemorate our rich 50 year history and look to the future.
What sessions, events, and networking opportunities will TAM 2025 feature?
TAM 2025 is excited to offer 29 sessions, 7 affinity groups meetings, 2 General Session and keynote addresses, 3 Evening Events, 5 Workshops, and many new opportunities to share content with colleagues and make in-person connections, #TAM2025 will be a fun and creative gathering of museum folk. For more details on the Annual Meeting sessions, events, and networking opportunities, look for the Schedule At A Glance, coming early 2025.
Who are TAM’s keynote speakers?
Monday: Jen Benoit-Bryan, Ph.D., Director of SMU DataArts
Tuesday: Teresa Bonner, Executive Director, E.A. Michelson Philanthropy, and Paul Coffey, Director of Glassell School of Art at the Museum Fine Arts, Houston
SCHOLARSHIPS & VOLUNTEERS
Are scholarships available for TAM 2025?
Yes! More information about Scholarships can be found here. Submissions are accepted through December 31, 2024.
Can I Volunteer at TAM 2025?
Yes! Volunteer information will be released in January, stay tuned for more.
EXHIBITORS, SPONSORS, & ADVERTISERS
Can I sponsor, exhibit, and advertise at TAM 2025? What's involved and what are the benefits?
Yes! Whether sponsoring, exhibiting, or advertising at the Annual Meeting, when you partner with TAM, you will have great exposure to a wide range of museum professionals and support the professional development TAM provides to the museum field all year long. Being a TAM 2025 sponsor, exhibitor, or advertiser will allow you to:
- Reach a concentrated group of museum professionals from a variety of sectors
- Increase your visibility among a diverse group of museums throughout the state
- Position your business as a supporter and leader in the museum field
- Build upon your existing relationships with decision-makers, while fostering new connections
- Support a high-quality forum dedicated to sharing cutting edge and emerging ideas being accessible to all museum professionals
Visit the Sponsor, Exhibitor, and Ad page here to learn more.
Academic Showcase Competition
What is the Academic Showcase Session? What is involved in presenting?
The Academic Showcase provides a unique opportunity for individuals to present their academic research, progressive ideas, or public programs. This exciting event provides a platform for students to share their research contributions with a statewide audience of scholars and museum professionals. Accepted projects will be featured in the TAM 2025 Annual Meeting mobile app, and presentations will be evaluated by a panel of museum experts during the conference. The top three Academic Projects will receive prestigious TAM awards and recognition at the event. Students interested in presenting are invited to submit concise abstracts and supporting materials that align with specific project categories outlined in the submission form. We extend a warm welcome to TAM student members from all colleges and campuses.
Winners will be celebrated at the Annual Meeting, featured in the TAM Newsletter, and prominently acknowledged on the TAM website. Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your academic contributions to the museum field!
TAM 2025 Host Hotel
AT&T Hotel and Conference Center
1900 University Ave, Austin, TX 78705
Reserve your room online at a discounted rate, available until March 6, 2025, or until the hotel block is sold out.
Explore opportunities for TAM 2025 Austin sponsorship, exhibitor booths, and ads by visiting the TAM 2025 Sponsorship Packet or TAM 2025 Sponsorship web page.
Jen Benoit-Bryan, Ph.D. is the Director of SMU DataArts, the national center for arts research. The focus of her work is activating data, research, and insights to support strong, vibrant, and equitable cultural communities. She’s worked recently on a wide range of projects with museums including an NEA-funded exploration of the roles of workforce inclusion and diversity in the cultural sector with the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, research with Museums Moving Forward on equity and organizational culture within art museums, and an evaluation of the Ford Foundation’s America’s Cultural Treasures groundbreaking grantmaking initiative. As an expert in statistical social research in the arts, she serves on advisory boards and grant review panels for the NEA, IMLS, and several arts service organizations.
Teresa Bonner is a principal in Family Philanthropy Advisors, which manages a select number of family foundations in Minneapolis-St. Paul and the Bay Area.
She brings more than 30 years of professional experience in philanthropy, foundation and nonprofit leadership. She is a frequent presenter on philanthropy as well as creative aging, including conferences for Grantmakers in the Arts, Grantmakers in Aging, Philanthropy New York, the American Society on Aging, Americans for the Arts and the National Association of State Arts Agencies.
Teresa serves as Executive Director of the Rosemary and David Good Family Foundation, Program Officer of the George F. Jewett Foundation, and advisor to the Engler Family Foundation. Until 2025, she also served as Executive Director of E.A. Michelson Philanthropy, where she developed and implemented its groundbreaking creative aging initiatives.
Teresa previously served as director of the U.S. Bancorp Foundation, where she managed $20+ million in Foundation grantmaking annually and led the company's community relations activities; the Piper Jaffray Foundation; the Library Foundation of Hennepin County; and Milkweed Editions.
Paul Coffey presently serves as the Director of Glassell School of Art at the Museum Fine Arts, Houston. Before assuming this role, he held the esteemed position of Vice Provost and Dean of Community Engagement at the renowned School of the Art Institute Chicago (SAIC). Within SAIC, he emerged as a pivotal figure within the President’s Cabinet, assuming responsibility for the Office of Engagement. Through his adept leadership, he spearheaded the successful launch of innovative programs, notably the Low Residency MFA, Master of Architecture, and Master of Arts in Visual and Critical Studies. Paul Coffey's association with SAIC dates back to 1992, a period when he commenced instructing studio classes. Over the years, his involvement extended to pivotal administrative and admissions roles. A remarkable highlight of his career was his collaborative directorship of the program for the American Pavilion at the prestigious 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale. His extensive journey through the realms of academia and artistic engagement showcases his significant contributions to the field.
TAM Executive Director Brittany Petrilli
TAM Event Planner Lauren Smith Richmond
