The Executive Advisory Council of the Museum Travel Alliance (MTA) convened on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, in the company’s New York City office.
The Executive Advisory Council, composed of directors and membership coordinators from six different institutions and members of MTA, ushered in the new year with a day of collaborative sessions. The team discussed business strategy, grants and donor cultivation, membership benefits, museum lecturers, and specialized travel programs.
Members in attendance included Anne Corso, Executive Director of the Michener Art Museum, Jill Deupi, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Lowe Art Museum, Robin Linek, Associate Director of Membership at the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University, Hutch Livingston, Coordinator of Member Travel at the Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Alejandra Peña Gutiérrez, Director of the Weisman Art Museum, and Masha Turchinsky, Director and CEO of the Hudson River Museum.
The meeting was led by Jim Friedlander, MTA President, and Kate Beveridge and Meg Orr from MTA’s Business Development team.
“The heart of our mission is to be an innovative resource for our museum partners,” Orr said. “From the introduction of our inaugural grant cycle to the broadening of our scholarly and cultural offerings, we remain dedicated to supporting the contributions of our partners.”
Throughout the day, the council participated in roundtable discussions and departmental meetings, all with one common theme: How can the Museum Travel Alliance best support your institution?
Attendees discussed creating partnerships with other museums and like-minded organizations for future trips, engaging with individuals unfamiliar with group travel, and maintaining a culture of learning and curiosity.
Jill Deupi noted the significance of community, friendship, and connections formed on group travel programs, while Masha Turchinsky emphasized the importance of making membership travel programs inclusive and welcoming of all people, not just seasoned travelers.
This discussion will continue: The Executive Advisory Council hopes to reconvene again on an annual basis.
“It was a pleasure to host six museum travel leaders to share our collective insights,” Friedlander said. “We look forward to building on the innovative ideas we discussed and delivering even more exceptional travel experiences to their institutions and members.”
Written by Jocelyn Visnov, Associate, Marketing and Communications
