▁and ▁programs . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁the ▁A AM C ▁has ▁a ▁board ▁of ▁ 1 8 ▁trust ees ▁from ▁ 1 4 ▁museum s ▁who ▁compr ise ▁some ▁of ▁the ▁most ▁distinguished ▁figures ▁in ▁the ▁field ; ▁more ▁than ▁ 5 0 0 ▁members ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁and ▁Canada ; ▁and ▁a ▁paid ▁administrator ▁working ▁in ▁offices ▁in ▁New ▁York ▁City ▁gener ously ▁provided ▁by ▁the ▁Samuel ▁H . ▁K ress ▁Foundation . ▁ ▁In ▁early ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁the ▁A AM C ▁board ▁of ▁trust ees ▁voted ▁to ▁incorpor ate ▁the ▁A AM C ▁Foundation , ▁a ▁ 5 0 1 ( c )( 3 ) ▁tax - ex empt ▁organization . ▁The ▁Foundation ' s ▁mission ▁is ▁two fold . ▁First , ▁it ▁see ks ▁to ▁height en ▁public ▁understanding ▁of ▁the ▁cur ator ' s ▁role ▁through ▁lect ures , ▁sym pos ia , ▁published ▁materials , ▁and ▁the ▁like . ▁Second , ▁it ▁awards ▁gr ants ▁to ▁cur ators ▁in ▁order ▁improve ▁their ▁ability ▁to ▁serve ▁the ▁publi ▁ ▁Program s ▁ ▁The ▁A AM C ▁and ▁A AM C ▁Foundation ▁spons or ▁several ▁programs ▁each ▁year : ▁▁ ▁the ▁members ' ▁annual ▁meeting , ▁held ▁each ▁May ▁ ▁regional ▁professional ▁development ▁con ferences ▁and / or ▁reception s ▁ ▁ment oring ▁initi atives ▁for ▁junior ▁cur ators ▁ ▁gr ants ▁for ▁travel ▁and ▁professional ▁development ▁( and , ▁when ▁war r anted , ▁emer gency ▁gr ants ) ▁