Find answers to your questions about Museums Advocacy Day 2027!

Jump to:

• About Museums Advocacy Day
• Attendee Information
• Location and Travel
• Congressional Meetings
• Accessibility at Museums Advocacy Day
• Registrations and Cancellations

About Museums Advocacy Day

Who should attend?

All members of the museum ecosystem are welcome to attend. Whether you are a museum worker, independent or industry professional who works with museums, board member or trustee of a museum, museum studies student, or if you work with museums in some other capacity, you are encouraged to attend. Individuals at any career stage and in any museum role are welcome.

Can my company be a sponsor?

Yes! Please contact us at CorporatePartnerships@aam-us.org to learn about corporate sponsorship opportunities.

How can my organization support Museums Advocacy Day?

Visit Become an Organizational Supporter for information about supporter levels and benefits.

What can I expect leading up to Museums Advocacy Day 2027, and how can I prepare?

At any time, you can access our breadth of Advocacy resources to learn about your legislators, deepen your own advocacy skills, and engage in year-round advocacy for museums. In particular, start researching your members of Congress and consider preparing an economic and/or education impact statement.

In the weeks leading up to Museums Advocacy Day 2027, registered attendees will receive materials to help them prepare and learn about their legislators, the legislative process, issues affecting museums, and advocacy tips and best practices.

What can I expect during Museums Advocacy Day, how does the overall event go, and what’s included?

Registration for Museums Advocacy Day includes access to all Museums Advocacy Day programming and events. Museums Advocacy Day 2027 takes place in Washington, D.C. Starting on Sunday February 21 with an evening Welcome and Networking Reception and followed by a full day of advocacy and policy programming on Monday February 22 at The Westin City Center Hotel. Advocates spend Tuesday, February 23 on Capitol Hill for Congressional meetings. Note, on Sunday, February 21, there are a few optional ticketed museum tours available to add to your registration through the registration system (space is extremely limited).

More information about programming, events, and registration desk hours can be found in emails to registered attendees prior to Museums Advocacy Day.

How can I receive email updates about Museums Advocacy Day?

1. Ensure you are subscribed to AAM emails by filling out this form (it will notify you if you are already subscribed).
2. If you haven’t already done so, add communications@aam-us.org to your Safe Senders list.
3. Sign up for updates about Museums Advocacy Day!

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Attendee Information

How do I access participant-only materials from AAM?

Instructions for accessing attendee-only materials for Museums Advocacy Day, will be sent out to registered attendees prior to the event.

How do I access my Congressional visit schedule if I am participating in February 23 visits?

You will access your meeting schedule and related information for Museums Advocacy Day 2027 in the AdvocacyDay app. You will receive your access to your unique schedule via email in mid-February.

How do I connect with other attendees from my state?

Attendees are invited to join the Museums Advocacy Day 2027 Participants community (information on how to access the community will be sent out prior to the event). When you access this specific community, you will be able to see other attendees who have accepted the community invitation.

The AdvocacyDay App, which attendees will get access to in mid-February, also allows you to communicate with other attendees in each of your Congressional meetings.

On Monday, February 22, you will have multiple opportunities to meet with other attendees from your state. The main coordination will happen during a specific designated time (see the program for the latest) for you to coordinate with the other attendees from your state to make sure you are on the same page for your meetings.

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Location and Travel

Where will the Museums Advocacy Day 2027 programming take place?

The Museums Advocacy Day headquarters hotel for February 21-23, 2027, where Sunday night reception and Monday programming takes place, will be:

The Westin Washington, DC City Center, 1400 M St NW, Washington, DC 20005

What travel options are available?  

AAM will not be providing transportation, however, the downtown Washington, DC area has plenty of public transportation options for attendees to easily access.

WMATA – Metro/Bus

• The hotel is located in the vicinity of the McPherson Square Metro Station, on the Metro’s Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines as well as being walkable to Farragut North Station on the red line.
• WMATA’s website has information on Metro bus routes, train stations, schedules, fares, and SmarTrip cards.
• Note for traveling to Capitol Hill, the nearest Metro Station to the Senate Office Buildings (Russell, Dirksen, or Hart Buildings) is Union Station on the red line and the nearest Metro Station to the House Office Buildings (Rayburn, Longworth or Cannon Buildings) is the Capitol South Metro Station on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines.
• If you are flying into DCA (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport), the airport’s Metro Station is on the Blue and Yellow lines.
• If you are flying into IAD (Dulles International Airport), the airport’s Metro Station is located on the Silver line.

Taxi/ride-share

• Dependent upon traffic conditions and time of day, it is an estimated 10-25 minute ride from the hotel to Capitol Hill (depending on which building you are going to).

Are rooms available in the Museums Advocacy Day room block at the hotel?

The AAM room block deadline to access AAM group rate is January 29, 2027.  The group room rate is $229 per night.  Hotel link.

Is parking available at the hotel?

Onsite parking is $62.00 daily. 

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Congressional Meetings

How are Congressional meetings scheduled?

After registering for Museums Advocacy Day, AAM will arrange your Congressional meetings on Capitol Hill based on the information you provide during registration, including grouping you with any fellow advocates from your state or congressional district. Do NOT schedule meetings yourself. Museums Advocacy Day is advocating as a unified group into Congressional offices and not as individual meetings.

Access to your Congressional meetings schedule will be emailed to you prior to Museums Advocacy Day 2027, including fellow advocates in your meetings. In some cases an advocate may be making visits in more than one state, in some states or congressional districts there may be delegations of one.

Scheduling is a fluid process, and updates will be ongoing until the time of Museums Advocacy Day. Once you’ve accessed your meeting schedule, it will always be available to you via electronic format as any updates are made.

How do Congressional meetings go, and what can I expect?

• The member of Congress might join your meeting but most likely you will be meeting with their legislative staff. Meetings may range in length from 10-30 minutes, and could take place in individual offices, conference rooms, common office spaces, or even hallways.
• Meetings should generally include introductions, exchanging business cards, sharing relevant stories, sharing key data (economic, public opinion), making the field-wide asks, engaging with legislators and staff (not just talking at them!), and building rapport.
• Advocates participating in congressional meetings should be prepared to be flexible, polite, and positive when moving around Capitol Hill and meeting with congressional offices.
• Always thank legislators and staff for any ways they have previously supported museums or your museum and for their time meeting with you. Meeting follow-up is a valuable way to cover any information that was not raised during a meeting. Templates will be made available from AAM to help you easily send thank you messages to the offices that met with you.

What should I know about visiting Capitol Hill?

• The United States Capitol Police provides information for general access, awareness, and navigational ease throughout the Capitol Complex. Prior to visiting, review the regulations and prohibitions.
• Security is high across Capitol Hill. Carry your photo ID with you at all times during Museums Advocacy Day. Be prepared for security checks when you enter legislative office buildings or the Library of Congress—build time into your schedule to get through security. The less metal you wear, the quicker it will be to enter.
• D.C.’s weather can vary day-to-day. Check the forecast and pack accordingly—and wear comfortable shoes!
• Bring lots of business cards to share and leave with Congressional offices.
• Don’t forget your cell phone charger, or external battery if you’ve got one.

More details will be available soon about the program and details Museums Advocacy Day 2027. If you have additional questions, please contact AAM staff at museumsadvocacyday@aam-us.org.

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Accessibility at Museums Advocacy Day

The American Alliance of Museums is committed to making attendance at Museums Advocacy Day accessible for all.

How can I share my accessibility and accommodations needs?

Please include your accessibility need(s) during your registration, when prompted in the form. If you require any of the following for Museums Advocacy Day:

• Special Assistance – an aide or personal assistant to help you navigate
• Sign Language Interpreters
• Accessible Housing
• or if you have Accessible Transportation concerns

Please also contact AAM staff at museumsadvocacyday@aam-us.org with information about your accessibility and accommodations need(s).

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Registrations and Cancellations

When will registration be open?

Registration for Museums Advocacy Day 2027 is open. The registration deadline is January 15, 2027.

I registered but am no longer able to attend.

Below is the cancellations and substitutions policy for Museums Advocacy Day 2027:

All cancellation requests must be made via e-mail museumsadvocacyday@aam-us.org. The Alliance is not responsible for cancellation or transfer requests that are incomplete or are not received. Cancellation requests received on or before January 15, 2027, will receive a refund minus a $25.00 administration fee. The $25.00 administration fee covers the cost of processing cancellations. No refunds will be granted if received on or after January 16, 2027. 

If you become unable to participate in Museums Advocacy Day 2027, please notify AAM as soon as possible, especially so we are aware of impacts to Congressional meetings being scheduled by AAM. Substitutions may be accepted as is feasible. Registrants who are no longer able to attend Museums Advocacy Day may request a substitution by submitting their request in writing email museumsadvocacyday@aam-us.org.

What are the registration rates for Museums Advocacy Day 2027?

For those who are able, each year we hope they will support our cause further by registering at the Sustainer, Champion, or Super Advocate rate—registration supports this critical work for our field! The true cost of Museums Advocacy Day is over $500 per person.

All registration rates include access to all Museums Advocacy Day 2027 programming and events except for the museum tours.  To get the museum tours, you must select those separately during your registration (space is limited). Registration is for in-person programming and participation.

Please note: The higher-level registrations (Sustainer, Champion, and Super Advocate) are not tax-deductible. Payments for advocacy activities which include direct lobbying do not qualify as charitable contributions under IRS rules, regardless of the organizer’s tax status. If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution towards AAM’s advocacy work, please select the donation option at checkout.

How are registration rates determined for Museums Advocacy Day?

The registration structure for Museums Advocacy Day has been designed to minimize barriers to participation while ensuring the event continues to be sustainable. While we estimate participation in Museums Advocacy Day to cost around $500 per participant, the registration rates are designed to be as affordable as possible for participants. Among these costs are the development and production of advocate training and resources, contractor services for meeting scheduling and event registration, and rising costs for event spaces as well as food and beverage. We are grateful to the individuals and our partners whose financial support helps keep registration as affordable as possible and provides advocates access to the high-quality training and resources they need to effectively make the case for museums and have successful Congressional meetings.

I have a question about registration options, a technical issue, or need more information.

Contact our team at museumsadvocacyday@aam-us.org. 

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