MuseumsNewEngland.org is a new online marketing initiative being developed by the New England Museum Association as a free benefit to its Institutional Members. Through this website, the general public and other interested parties can discover and learn about museums throughout New England. It allows visitors to search museums by location and type and displays information and photographs from the museums that fit the search criteria, along with links to the museums’ own websites. A mapping feature, currently in development, will allow visitors to create a travel itinerary with multiple museums. Museums New England is also designed to serve as a resource for researchers, event/wedding planners, film and photo location scouts, and for government officials and the media looking for information about the cultural resources in the area.

Two factors were the catalysts for NEMA taking on this initiative. First is the consistent message NEMA heard from its members through surveys that they would like NEMA to help promote their museums to the public. Second, the NEMA website usually ranks first in the results of a Google search of “New England Museums” – however nemanet.org is designed to meet the needs of its members, not the general public. These two facts pointed to an opportunity for NEMA to connect its members with tourists and other parties interested in learning more about New England museums and the resources they provide.

Museums New England provides an easy to navigate, one-stop shopping website for people looking for museums. We are promoting the site to travel and tourism boards, cultural organizations, event planners, and local media outlets, including Arts New England, Antiques and Fine Arts, and WGBH.

We currently have over 169 museums listed! With your help, we hope to reach 100% participation of all of our institutional members. It’s free and it’s easy, so we hope to see your museum online soon! Click here for information and to participate.