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) started in 1978. It is a group that helps museums in central Arizona work together. CAMA also helps museum workers learn new skills. They want everyone to see how important museums are.
Central Arizona has many different museums. These museums offer fun things for kids, students, and adults. You can find lectures, workshops, and free events. Some museums even offer 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. People who work at museums can join CAMA. This includes museum directors, curators, and educators. Volunteers and students can also become members. The museums themselves can join too. This includes art, history, science, and youth museums.
Contents
How CAMA Started and Its First Leaders
The Central Arizona Museum Association officially began on February 1, 1978. Several museums helped create CAMA. These included the Chandler Historical Society and the Heard Museum. The Phoenix Art Museum was also a founding member.
CAMA's first leaders were also chosen in 1978. Tray C. Mead from the Mesa Museum was the first President. Peggy Burton from the Tempe Historical Museum was the Vice-President.
CAMA's Museum Guide
Every two years, CAMA creates a special guide. This guide shows off its member museums. You can find it printed or online on the CAMA website. Local businesses often help pay for this guide.
The guide includes a map to help you find the museums. It also tells you their hours and what they offer. This makes it easy to plan your museum visits.
Meetings and Activities
CAMA holds meetings from September to May. They meet on the second Wednesday of each month. These meetings help museum workers learn new things. They feature talks and demonstrations on many topics. Member museums often host these meetings.
CAMA members also help promote museums. They take part in events like the Arizona Humanities Festival of the Arts. This helps more people learn about the amazing museums in the area.
Awards and Support for Members
CAMA offers special money awards called stipends. Members can apply for these awards each year. The stipends help members attend conferences. They can also use them for other learning experiences. In 2013, CAMA honored Alice C. Jung. She was a CAMA secretary who had passed away. That year's stipends were given in her memory.
CAMA has also received grants to help museums. For example, in 1999 and 2000, they got money from Robinson's-May Department Store. This helped create "Robinson's-May Museum Month." In 2004, they received even more money for this event.
In 1999, CAMA received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This money helped with "Project SMART." This project created a guide and workshops for small museums in Arizona.
International Museum Day
Every May, CAMA helps celebrate International Museum Day (IMD). Member museums offer special deals and programs. IMD started in 1977 to show how important museums are. They help build a sense of community. Arizona governors have even made special announcements for IMD. This happened in 1978, 1984, 1994, and 2014.
Over the years, this event has had different names. It was called Arizona Museum Week or Arizona Museum Month. Sometimes it was called Summer at the Museum. But the goal is always the same. It's to encourage everyone to visit museums. Participating museums offer discounts and fun activities.
CAMA provides materials to promote IMD. These materials are available in both English and Spanish. You can find many past IMD materials online. They are kept in the Arizona Memory Project.
CAMA Records
The records for the Central Arizona Museum Association are kept at Arizona State University Library. They are in the Archives & Special Collections. You can find them at the Tempe campus.
See also
- International Council of Museums
- List of museums in Arizona
