FAQ


Where is MSA FORWARD 2023? Are all events on-site? MSA FORWARD is taking place at the Colorado Convention Center, located at 700 14th Street, Denver, CO. All education sessions, ticketed workshops, and the Expo Hall are located in the convention center. Once available, room numbers for all events can be found online, on the app, and in the printed on-site guide. The educational excursions will be held off-site: there will be 1 full-day trip and 2 half days trips to local museums on Wednesday. The MSA NEXT Party on Wednesday night for those who identify as a young or new professional takes place off-site at a location TBD. The other networking parties (the MSA Friday Night Party and Happy Hour and Silent Auction & MSA Awards) will all take place at the Colorado Convention Center.
What is included in my registration? Full MSA FORWARD conference registration includes: Access to all non-ticketed education sessions MSA networking events (including the MSA NEXT Party, MSA Friday Night Party & Silent Auction, and the Wine and Cheese Closing Session & MSA Awards) Access to the Expo Hall Registered attendees can also attend the AAM General Session (Friday, May 20, 9-10:15 am) and keynote presentations at the AAM Annual Meeting & Museum Expo, as well as visit their exhibitor booths in the shared Expo Hall area.
What meals are available during conference? Meals included in your MSA registration: Breakfast on Thursday (as part of the Opening General Session & Welcome Breakfast) Lunch on Thursday (as part of the MSA Membership Meeting & Luncheon) Breakfast on Friday (as part of the General Session & Grab-and-Sit Breakfast) Grab-and-go lunches in the Expo Hall on Friday and Saturday (lunch tickets required and included in your MSA registration) – If you forgot to reserve your lunch tickets during reservation, you can print them out at the MSA Registration Desk. Grab-and-go breakfast in the Expo Hall on Saturday Food and drink included at MSA networking parties: MSA Friday Night Party & Silent Auction (Friday at 6:30 pm): Two drink tickets (followed by a cash bar), chef’s table buffet Wine and Cheese Closing Session & MSA Awards (Saturday at 5 pm): Two drink tickets (followed by a cash bar), cheese and charcuterie MSA NEXT Party for young professionals and industry newcomers (Wednesday at 7 pm): Two drink tickets per person (followed by a cash bar), heavy hors d’oeuvres, charcuterie, and assorted treats
Where do I catch the shuttle to the Wednesday (Salem) and Sunday (Freedom Trail) excursions? You will board your bus at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center valet cut-out, near the front entrance.
Can I still register for one of the ticketed workshops or educational excursions once I arrive in Boston? If tickets are available, you can purchase a ticket to the Nonprofit Retail Boot Camp, IMPACTS Experience workshop, or the Freedom Trail Walking Tour excursion at the MSA Registration Desk. (Tickets to the Salem excursion are sold out.)
Will there be recordings of the education sessions available after the conference? All non-ticketed education sessions will be recorded. MSA FORWARD registered attendees will have free access the recordings for 90 days after the conference. After 90 days, the recordings will be available for purchase on the MSA website (members receive a reduced rate).
I’m donating an item to the auction. Where do I bring it? Please bring your item with completed documents to the MSA FORWARD Registration Desk by 3 pm Thursday, May 19.
Who do I go to with questions? Is there an MSA Help Desk? If you have a question or need assistance, please see the MSA staff and volunteers at the MSA Registration Desk (North Lobby). You can also visit the MSA Booth in the Expo Hall (Booth 718), where you can ask conference questions and learn about MSA membership, Museum Store Sunday, and the MSA Marketplace.
What does it mean that MSA FORWARD is co-located with the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo? These two events are being held in the same convention center, and registered attendees of either conference are welcome to visit both MSA and AAM booths in the shared Expo Hall space. MSA FORWARD registered attendees may also attend the AAM General Session and keynote presentations at no added cost.
If I’m vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, do I still need to wear a mask? We are following health and safety protocols determined by AAM and the City of Boston. As of February 18, Boston is no longer requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for indoor venues. While Boston has also lifted indoor masking requirements, at this time, MSA and AAM encourage attendees to wear masks while in the convention center when not eating or drinking. If needed, masks are available at the MSA Registration Desk (thank you to Original Source for donating!). If you're attending an educational excursion, we recommend bringing a mask with you. Masking guidelines vary per museum, venue, and transportation.
What is the attendee registration cancellation policy? Cancellations must be received in writing by April 18, 2022, to events@museumstoreassociation.org, and are subject to a $100 cancellation fee. Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 5 days before the event when requested in writing. No refunds will be issued after April 18, 2022.
What is the COVID-19 policy at MSA FORWARD 2022? We are following health and safety protocols determined by AAM and the City of Boston. As of February 18, Boston is no longer requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for indoor venues. At this time, AAM and MSA are still asking all conference attendees to wear masks while in the convention center when not eating or drinking. We will continue to update you should these policies change.

Where is MSA FORWARD 2023? Are all events on-site?

MSA FORWARD is taking place at the Colorado Convention Center, located at 700 14th Street, Denver, CO. All education sessions, ticketed workshops, and the Expo Hall are located in the convention center. Once available, room numbers for all events can be found online, on the app, and in the printed on-site guide.
The educational excursions will be held off-site: there will be 1 full-day trip and 2 half days trips to local museums on Wednesday.

The MSA NEXT Party on Wednesday night for those who identify as a young or new professional takes place off-site at a location TBD. The other networking parties (the MSA Friday Night Party and Happy Hour and Silent Auction & MSA Awards) will all take place at the Colorado Convention Center.

What is included in my registration?

Full MSA FORWARD conference registration includes:

Access to all non-ticketed education sessions
MSA networking events (including the MSA NEXT Party, MSA Friday Night Party & Silent Auction, and the Wine and Cheese Closing Session & MSA Awards)
Access to the Expo Hall

Registered attendees can also attend the AAM General Session (Friday, May 20, 9-10:15 am) and keynote presentations at the AAM Annual Meeting & Museum Expo, as well as visit their exhibitor booths in the shared Expo Hall area.

What meals are available during conference?

Meals included in your MSA registration:

Breakfast on Thursday (as part of the Opening General Session & Welcome Breakfast)
Lunch on Thursday (as part of the MSA Membership Meeting & Luncheon)
Breakfast on Friday (as part of the General Session & Grab-and-Sit Breakfast)
Grab-and-go lunches in the Expo Hall on Friday and Saturday (lunch tickets required and included in your MSA registration) – If you forgot to reserve your lunch tickets during reservation, you can print them out at the MSA Registration Desk.
Grab-and-go breakfast in the Expo Hall on Saturday

Food and drink included at MSA networking parties:

MSA Friday Night Party & Silent Auction (Friday at 6:30 pm): Two drink tickets (followed by a cash bar), chef’s table buffet
Wine and Cheese Closing Session & MSA Awards (Saturday at 5 pm): Two drink tickets (followed by a cash bar), cheese and charcuterie
MSA NEXT Party for young professionals and industry newcomers (Wednesday at 7 pm): Two drink tickets per person (followed by a cash bar), heavy hors d’oeuvres, charcuterie, and assorted treats

Where do I catch the shuttle to the Wednesday (Salem) and Sunday (Freedom Trail) excursions?

You will board your bus at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center valet cut-out, near the front entrance.

Can I still register for one of the ticketed workshops or educational excursions once I arrive in Boston?

If tickets are available, you can purchase a ticket to the Nonprofit Retail Boot Camp, IMPACTS Experience workshop, or the Freedom Trail Walking Tour excursion at the MSA Registration Desk. (Tickets to the Salem excursion are sold out.)

Will there be recordings of the education sessions available after the conference?

All non-ticketed education sessions will be recorded. MSA FORWARD registered attendees will have free access the recordings for 90 days after the conference. After 90 days, the recordings will be available for purchase on the MSA website (members receive a reduced rate).

I’m donating an item to the auction. Where do I bring it?

Please bring your item with completed documents to the MSA FORWARD Registration Desk by 3 pm Thursday, May 19.

Who do I go to with questions? Is there an MSA Help Desk?

If you have a question or need assistance, please see the MSA staff and volunteers at the MSA Registration Desk (North Lobby). You can also visit the MSA Booth in the Expo Hall (Booth 718), where you can ask conference questions and learn about MSA membership, Museum Store Sunday, and the MSA Marketplace.

What does it mean that MSA FORWARD is co-located with the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo?

These two events are being held in the same convention center, and registered attendees of either conference are welcome to visit both MSA and AAM booths in the shared Expo Hall space. MSA FORWARD registered attendees may also attend the AAM General Session and keynote presentations at no added cost.

If I’m vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, do I still need to wear a mask?

We are following health and safety protocols determined by AAM and the City of Boston. As of February 18, Boston is no longer requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for indoor venues. While Boston has also lifted indoor masking requirements, at this time, MSA and AAM encourage attendees to wear masks while in the convention center when not eating or drinking. If needed, masks are available at the MSA Registration Desk (thank you to Original Source for donating!).

If you're attending an educational excursion, we recommend bringing a mask with you. Masking guidelines vary per museum, venue, and transportation.

What is the attendee registration cancellation policy?

Cancellations must be received in writing by April 18, 2022, to events@museumstoreassociation.org, and are subject to a $100 cancellation fee. Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 5 days before the event when requested in writing. No refunds will be issued after April 18, 2022.

What is the COVID-19 policy at MSA FORWARD 2022?

We are following health and safety protocols determined by AAM and the City of Boston. As of February 18, Boston is no longer requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for indoor venues. At this time, AAM and MSA are still asking all conference attendees to wear masks while in the convention center when not eating or drinking. We will continue to update you should these policies change.