Its inaugural meeting was held at the invitation of the Council of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society in York on 20 June 1889.

[3] The MA advocates for museums, sets ethical standards and runs training and professional development for members wishing to further their careers.

[8] The latest case studies and best practice by museum professionals around the UK, with an interactive platform for users to share their ideas.

[13] The association is independently funded by its membership,[5] and it is governed by a board of trustees,[14] from all parts of the UK museum community, elected by members.

In April 2018, Maggie Appleton replaced David Fleming as president; she is also the CEO of the RAF Museum.