Every Museum Has a Story to Tell: Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum

Category: Alliance Blog
Posted on Aug 8, 2019
A graphic that reads "Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum 2019, August 12-16, #InviteCongress #MuseumAdvocacy
Ember Farber
Image of woman with curly short dark colored hair smiling at the camera

Who: Museums and elected officials around the country!

What: Annual Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum week.

When: August 12-16, or whenever your elected officials and staff can make it.

Where: Your museum!

Why: So elected officials can see first-hand what museums are and what museums do in their communities.

As we head into August 2019, I’m hopeful that the phrase “Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum” isn’t brand new to you and your museum. Coming up on its eighth year, #InviteCongress is an annual effort to encourage museums around the country to engage with local, state, and federal elected officials and stakeholders by inviting them into the museum. There are some museums who have done this every year since 2012 and can attest to the impact each visit has on the legislators and staff who visit (we’re looking at you Massillon Museum and Washington County Museum of Fine Arts!). Other museums may be newer to these types of advocacy activities and wondering how to jump in. The good news is that #InviteCongress is a perfect, and important, activity for museums of every type and size, with any and every level of previous advocacy experience, from any part of the country. Every museum has a powerful story to tell, and elected officials want to hear them.

I could go on about how fun and empowering it is to host these visits or expand upon each step of our step-by-step “How To” Guide. But we all know a picture paints a thousand words. So in that vein, don’t just take my word for it. Here’s what it looks like when museums and legislators get together for “Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum.” I hope you will check out the “How To” Guide and plan to participate this year.

I’m here to answer any and all questions. We can’t wait to see photos and updates from your visits.

And many thanks to @OhioMuseums, @mpma1, @AASLH, @calmuseums and @MichiganMuseums for helping to spread the word!

Rep. Barbara Lee takes in a hip-hop exhibition at Oakland Museum of California:

Senator Jack Reed and Rep. David Cicilline make time to experience the Tennis Hall of Fame Museum & Grounds:

@BAMPFA welcomes congressional staff from several #BayArea legislators’ offices:

@Cheekwood hosts field representatives of @senAlexander & @repdianeblack:

@MOSTHistory enjoys a visit from @RepGonzalez:

@IdahoBotanicalG gives tours to @Raul_Labrador’s Regional Director and @SenatorRisch’s staff:

@ErieArtMuseum welcomes the staff of @MikeKellyPA & @SenToomey:

The Saugatuck-Douglas History Center welcomes @RepFredUpton and @MichiganMuseums shares the story:

Ember Farber
Image of woman with curly short dark colored hair smiling at the camera

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