Museums Association of the Caribbean

Since 1987, the Museums Association of the Caribbean has been a supportive network for the museums and cultural organisations across the region. At this year’s upcoming conference, the theme The Future of Caribbean Museums: Communities, Co-Creation, and Connections addresses the question "What changes must we embrace today to ensure that museums remain alive and relevant for future generations?"

Lord Consultants Magdiel Espinal (mespinal@lord.ca) and Alexandra Gooding (agooding@lord.ca) are attending this year, and will be presenting Building Bridges: Museums in Cultural Planning.

Building Bridges: Museums in Cultural Planning

Join us for an interactive exploration of cultural planning trends, highlighting its role in capacity building, advocacy, partnerships, and resource leveraging within a networked ecosystem. Discover how museums can lead in the planning process, harness the advantages of engaging in cultural plans, and enhance their influence by collaborating with fellow cultural entities within their community.

We spoke with them about what they’re most looking forward to about the conference and what makes it so special.

How is MAC’s conference different from others you've attended?

Magdiel: One of the most unique aspects of MAC’s conference is its exclusive focus on the Caribbean region. While there are numerous conferences in North America dedicated to museums and the broader industry, very few offer a uniquely Caribbean perspective.

Alexandra: Expecting around 200 attendees this year, it will be MAC’s biggest conference yet. Compared to North American and European conferences, this more intimate scale allows us to form deeper, genuine connections that last well beyond the conference. Plus, the hyper-friendly environment makes it ideal for first-time conference presenters.

What are some of the unique opportunities MAC’s conference offers?

Alexandra: MAC recognises the challenges and costs associated with traveling, especially within the region, and works extremely hard to secure grants that support Caribbean cultural professionals in attending. There’s even an exclusive breakfast for those Fellows to network with past and present Board members.

MAC also always gives attendees a true taste of the host territory’s local culture – from markets, artists’ studios and rum distilleries to art galleries, museums and historic sites. These cultural tours are when the most magic happens as we all share in cultural experiences that remind us why we love and do the work that we do.

What does it mean to you to have all sessions presented in English, French and Spanish?

Magdiel: It really shows MAC’s dedication to making everyone feel included, which is so important for the Caribbean. Our region may be small, but it’s incredibly diverse, with each country and community bringing its own rich traditions and cultures. Providing multilingual sessions is a big commitment, and it speaks to MAC’s focus on constantly learning and improving to create a more accessible, welcoming space for everyone involved.

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