May

Museum Legal Community Gathers for 50th- Anniversary LIMA Conference

Attendees gathered in person for the annual conference for the first time since 2019.

Secretary Bunch is seen on large video screen in front of conference attendees — Secretary Lonnie Bunch welcomed attendees to the 50th Anniversary Legal Issues in Museum Administration Conference on March 23, 2022.

More than 170 museum attorneys and professionals gathered at the Washington Hilton Hotel in March, and another 150 tuned in via webcast, for the annual Legal Issues in Museum Administration conference, co-hosted by the Smithsonian’s Office of the General Counsel and the American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education office. The community was excited to connect in person to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the LIMA conference.

Kevin Young at podium addresses conference attendees — Kevin Young, director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, delivered the keynote address at the 2022 LIMA conference.

After a warm welcome by Secretary Lonnie Bunch and a keynote address in which Director Kevin Young of the National Museum of African American History and Culture explored the concepts of living history and lyrical leadership, the museum legal community reflected on how museum lawyering has evolved and then looked to its future. Featured conference sessions included instruction on this year’s most important legal issues, including cryptocurrency and NFTs, recent developments in restitution and repatriation, donor-advised funds and other hot topics in philanthropy, and virtual museum programming. On the first evening of the conference, guests explored the exciting FUTURES exhibit and mingled at the beautiful Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building and gardens.