Thousands of museums professionals have descended on the US capital for the American Alliance of Museums’ 2016 Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo.

Taking place in Washington, DC, at the Walter E.Washington Convention Center, around 6,000 people are expected to attend the four-day event – the largest of its kind worldwide.

Attendance for the event has seen nearly a 40 per cent increase, with last year’s conference in Atlanta, drawing just over 4,000 people.

Following the theme of ‘Power, Influence and Responsibility’, attendees from more than 50 countries will debate industry practice and issues facing the sector.

More than 180 sessions are scheduled to take place over the four-day period, with featured speakers including the Smithsonian’s David J. Skorton, former presidential candidate Ralph Nader and Dr. Mae Jemison – the first black woman to go to space and leader of a programme funded by the Department of Defense to ensure the capability for human space travel to another star within the next 100 years.

In addition to the star-studded lineup of speakers, more than 250 exhibitors are showcasing products, services and technologies designed to take museum programmes and institutions to the next level.

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