SAMA National Conference

SAMA’s main annual event is the SAMA National Conference.

The Conference is hosted by a different region each year and is usually held in October. The National Conference is a time when members get the opportunity to network, be inspired by the papers, debates and discussions at the sessions, attend SAMA’s AGM and be part of a vibrant museum and heritage community. Each Conference includes a day for excursions where delegates visit museums and heritage sites in the host region and see what others are doing. Click here for a taste of SAMA National Conferences.

The hybrid 2024 SAMA National Conference was held 3-5 September in Bloemfontein, Mangaung, Free State

The 89th South African Museums Association (SAMA) National Conference will be held in the City of Tshwane, Gauteng, from 2 to 4 September 2025. This year’s theme, Sustainable Futures Through Cultural Resilience, highlights the urgent need to harmonise three key pillars: Cultural Preservation, Digital Innovation, and Environmental Sustainability.

The conference will inspire participants to embrace sustainability and resilience as shared values and examine how these interconnected principles equip cultural institutions to thrive in the modern age.

The annual SAMA National Conference aims to:

Facilitate networking among museum colleagues
Foster the development of the museum profession
Elevate and ensure improvement of museum standards
Advocate for and uphold museum ethics.
Promote museum training and skills development
Engage in discourse on key museum-related topics, including the intersection of cultural preservation, digital innovation, and environmental sustainability.