Central Arizona Museum Association facts for kids
CAMA Logo
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| Type | 501(c) (3) non-profit association |
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| Tax ID No. | AZ Tax Identification #: 86-0495403; AZ Corporation Commission ID #: 0161357-0 |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Area served | Arizona Counties served by CAMA: Gila, Maricopa, Yavapai, and Pinal |
| Focus | Museums, including professionals and volunteers |
| Website | http://www.azcama.org/ |
The Central Arizona Museum Association (CAMA) is a special group that helps museums in central Arizona. It started in 1978. CAMA is a non-profit organization, which means it doesn't make money for owners. Instead, it uses its funds to help museums.
CAMA helps museums work together and share ideas. They also help people who work or volunteer at museums learn new skills. A big part of their job is to show everyone how important and fun museums are. Central Arizona has many different kinds of museums. These museums offer cool exhibits and activities for all ages. You can find lectures, workshops, demonstrations, and even trips to other places. CAMA also helps organize International Museum Day in central Arizona.
CAMA helps museums in these Arizona counties: Gila, Maricopa, Pinal, and Yavapai. Many different people are members of CAMA. These include museum directors, curators (people who manage collections), educators, and volunteers. The museums themselves can also be members. These include art, history, science, and youth museums.
Contents
How CAMA Started
The Central Arizona Museum Association officially began on February 1, 1978. Several museums and historical groups helped create it.
Founding Museums
The first groups that helped start CAMA were:
- Chandler Historical Society
- Glendale Historical Society
- Heard Museum
- Mesa Museum
- Phoenix Art Museum
- Phoenix Historical Museum
- Tempe Historical Museum
First Leaders
The first leaders of CAMA were:
- President: Tray C. Mead from the Mesa Museum
- Vice-President: Peggy Burton from the Tempe Historical Museum
- Secretary: Mary Jane Williams from the Arizona State University Art Collection
- Treasurer: Lee Scott Theisen from the Phoenix Historical Museum
CAMA's Publications
Every two years, CAMA creates a brochure. This is a small booklet that you can find in print or online. It highlights all the museums that are part of CAMA.
Brochure Details
The brochure helps people find and learn about the museums. It often includes a map showing where each museum is located. It also lists their hours, addresses, and what makes each museum special. Local businesses have often helped pay for these brochures. Some past sponsors include Salt River Project and The Arizona Bank.
Programs and Activities
CAMA holds regular meetings and takes part in special events. These activities help museum professionals and volunteers learn and grow.
Monthly Meetings
CAMA usually meets once a month from September to May. These meetings are about an hour and a half long. They are designed to help museum staff learn new skills and share ideas. Different member museums or cultural places host these meetings. This allows members to see different museum settings.
Promotional Events
CAMA members also help promote their museums at various events. For example, they have participated in the Arizona Humanities Festival of the Arts. This helps more people learn about the amazing museums in central Arizona.
Awards and Grants
CAMA helps its members by offering special funds. It has also received grants to support its work.
Member Stipends
CAMA offers money called "stipends" to its members each year. These stipends help members pay for things like going to conferences. They can also use the money for other professional training experiences. In 2013, CAMA honored Alice C. Jung, a former secretary, by naming the stipends after her.
Received Grants
CAMA has received grants from different organizations. For example, Robinson's-May Department Store gave CAMA money in 1999, 2000, and 2004. This money helped promote local museums during what was called "Robinson's-May Museum Month." In 1999, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) also gave CAMA a grant. This grant helped create a resource manual and workshops for small museums in Arizona.
International Museum Day
Each year in May, CAMA helps celebrate International Museum Day (IMD). This is a special day when museums around the world highlight their importance.
Celebrating IMD
During IMD, CAMA's member museums often offer special deals, programs, and discounts. IMD was started in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). Its goal is to show people how important museums are to their communities. CAMA has even received special announcements from the governor of Arizona for IMD in past years.
Past Names and Promotions
Over the years, this museum celebration has had different names. It has been called Arizona Museum Week, Arizona Museum Month, and Summer at the Museum. No matter the name, participating museums offer fun activities and discounts for everyone.
Promotional Materials
CAMA creates special materials to promote IMD and its museums. These materials are often supported by businesses. All of CAMA's International Museum Day materials are available in both English and Spanish. The Arizona Memory Project also keeps a large collection of these materials.
Archives
Records and documents from the Central Arizona Museum Association are kept at the Arizona State University Library. They are part of the Archives & Special Collections Reference Services at the Tempe campus.
See also
- International Council of Museums
- List of museums in Arizona
