[1] The IMA aims to support the Irish museum sector through activities that highlight the value of collections and the contribution of museums to society as places of learning, conservation, research, and interpretation.
[2] Their programme, funded by the Heritage Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, includes professional development, advocacy, research and dissemination strands: [3] annual conferences, publications such as the sectoral journal Museum Ireland (ISSN 0961-9690), relevant training,[4] and original research.
[7] In 2004, it registered as a operating as a non-profit company limited by guarantee and hired its first member of staff.
Former chairs also include Brian Crowley, museum curator at Kilmainham Gaol (2013-2017), Paul Doyle, registrar at the National Museum of Ireland (2011-2013) and Dr Marie Bourke, keeper and head of education at the National Gallery of Ireland (2006-2011).
The main annual conference takes place each year in a different venue with an overarching theme for the proceedings: