Museums Advocacy Day

Museums Advocacy Day 2022

Over the course of the pandemic, our field has generated unparalleled levels of advocacy for museums. You have sent more than 62,000 messages to Congress, created the largest Museums Advocacy Day yet with over 600 participants and over 400 virtual meetings with your legislators’ offices, and spurred action resulting in billions of dollars in financial relief that enabled many museums to survive and saved thousands of museum jobs. In 2022, we have the chance to capitalize on this energy for museums advocacy.

Museums Advocacy Day 2022 is taking place virtually on February 28–March 1—allowing advocates to once again participate from anywhere you are.

Museums Advocacy Day 2022 registration is now closed.

If you are registered, access the Museums Advocacy Day Event Center with the password that was emailed to you.

Learn more below about Museums Advocacy Day 2022:

• Registration Options
• Schedule for Feb. 28–Mar. 1, pre-event webinars, and on-demand recordings
• FAQ

At Museums Advocacy Day 2022 and throughout the year, you have the power to help create lasting change that can sustain museums and museum jobs into the future—join us!

Stay tuned for updates on this page, in newsletters, or on social media (Twitter | Facebook).

About Museums Advocacy Day: For more than ten years, Museums Advocacy Day has been providing the essential training and support advocates need to meet effectively with members of Congress and their staff. Museums Advocacy Day is a unique opportunity to unite with museum colleagues and supporters from across the country as one voice to reaffirm our essential value, collective contributions, and aspirations while making the critical case for museums directly to Congress.

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Registration Options

Registration fees help offset only a portion of the cost incurred by AAM to run Museums Advocacy Day. While we estimate participation in Museums Advocacy Day to cost at least $200 per participant, the registration options are designed to be as affordable as possible for participants. If you are able, we hope you will support our cause further by registering at the Sustainer, Champion, or Super Advocate rate—your registration supports this critical work for our field.

Registration is now closed. For 2022, advocates could choose from the following registration options:

• Advocacy Program Without Congressional Meetings: Includes access to an on-demand recordings library of skill-building resources, and weekly webinars throughout the month of February. Museums Advocacy Day virtual programming provides a unique opportunity to gather with fellow museum professionals and supporters to learn about best practices, strategies, techniques, and tools to be a successful advocate for museums. This option is ideal for those looking to increase their advocacy skills and connect with fellow museum professionals without Congressional meetings on March 1.
  Member rate: $25
  Nonmember rate: $50
• Advocacy in Action: Advocacy Program and Congressional Meetings: Includes access to all Advocacy Program content, plus virtual meetings with members of Congress and/or their staffs and additional tools to prepare for effective meetings. This option is ideal for new or seasoned advocates and museum leadership and trustees who are committed to preparing for and participating in virtual meetings with their legislators’ offices on Tuesday, March 1. All meetings will be scheduled by AAM.
  Member rate: $35
  Nonmember rate: $75
• Sustainer: You know the power of participating in Museums Advocacy Day and want to contribute more towards the cost of attending. (Includes participation in Congressional Meetings if selected.)
  Registration: $99
• Champion: You value participating in Museums Advocacy Day and can afford to cover the full cost of the Museums Advocacy Day experience. (Includes participation in Congressional Meetings if selected.)
  Registration: $199
• Super Advocate: You know support for advocates is essential to a successful Museums Advocacy Day experience and want to help ensure that cost isn’t a barrier for others to participate. (Includes participation in Congressional Meetings if selected.)
  Registration: $249
  

See the FAQ below for commonly asked questions about registration.

Back to top | Schedule at a Glance | FAQ

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Schedule:

If you are registered, access the Museums Advocacy Day Event Center with the password that was emailed to you.

Check out the February 28-March 1 schedule, weekly webinars in February, and a sneak peek at pre-event recordings you’ll be able to access on-demand and at your own pace:

On-Demand Recordings

Available Starting February 1

A library of on-demand recorded videos will provide information and inspiration for advocates to access at your convenience and based on your interests, with topics such as:

• What to expect at Museums Advocacy Day & beyond
• Leveraging social media for advocacy
• State advocacy efforts
• Federal agency overviews
• Specific public policy issues

Pre-Event Webinars

Wednesdays in February: 2-3 p.m. ET

A series of weekly webinars will offer advocates the opportunity to connect, learn, and prepare in advance for Congressional meetings and other advocacy opportunities. All webinars will be recorded and made available to Museums Advocacy Day 2022 participants. See the links below for details and speakers:

• February 2: Strategic Storytelling: Communicating Your Museum’s Impact
• February 9: Making the Case with Critical Data
• February 16: Advocacy Deep Dive: How to be an Effective Museum Advocate
• February 23: Preparing for Capitol Hill: Setting the Stage

Monday, February 28

All times are Eastern Time (ET). Speakers and times subject to change.

2:00-2:30 p.m. – Welcome
Barry Szczesny, Director, Government Relations and Public Policy, American Alliance of Museums
Dale Strange, President & General Manager, Arts & Cultural Solutions, Blackbaud
Crosby Kemper, Director, Institute of Museum and Library Services

2:30-2:45 p.m. – Why We’re Here and What’s at Stake in 2022
AAM President and CEO Laura Lott welcomes advocates from around the nation.

2:45-3:30 p.m. – Advocacy Essentials
Stephanie Vance, “Advocacy Guru” of Advocacy Associates

3:30-3:45 p.m. – Break

3:45-4:00 p.m. – Hill Staffer’s Perspective
Kimberly Rudolph, Chief of Staff, Representative André D. Carson (D-IN)

4:00-4:45 p.m. – Preparing for Capitol Hill – Key Issues and Asks
Barry Szczesny, Director, Government Relations and Public Policy, American Alliance of Museums
Andy Finch, Director of Policy, Association of Art Museum Directors

4:45-5:00 p.m. – Pro Tips for Being an Effective Advocate

5:30 p.m. – State/Group Delegation Breakout Meetings: If you selected Congressional meetings in your registration, use this time to convene with fellow advocates from your state or region to plan, prepare, and practice for your Congressional meetings.

Tuesday, March 1

Scheduled between 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. ET: Virtual Congressional Meetings

Advocates who registered to participate in meetings with Congressional offices should hold the full day on their calendars to allow for scheduling and adjustments as needed. AAM will schedule Congressional meetings and participants will receive a personalized schedule prior to the event.

Back to top | Registration Options | FAQ

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General:

Who should participate in Museums Advocacy Day?

All those working in and with the broad museum field are encouraged and welcomed to participate – including museum professionals, independent professionals, museum field vendors and partners, trustees, retirees, students, and individuals seeking employment in a museum, at all stages of their career. Whatever your current role, Museums Advocacy Day is a unique and powerful professional development opportunity.

• The Advocacy Program Without Congressional Meetings option is ideal for those looking to increase their advocacy skills and connect with fellow museum professionals without Congressional meetings on March 1.
• The Advocacy in Action: Advocacy Program and Congressional Meetings option is ideal for new and seasoned advocates and museum leadership and trustees who are committed to preparing for and participating in virtual meetings with their legislators’ offices on Tuesday, March 1. All meetings will be scheduled by AAM.

What’s new for Museums Advocacy Day 2022?

Updates this year will help you shape your Museums Advocacy Day 2022 experience. With your feedback in mind, we made a few adjustments:

• We heard you: the programming on day one is so robust it can feel like a lot of information (and it is!). In 2022, you will receive self-paced access to preparation resources, plus weekly webinars throughout February to strengthen the advocacy skills that can help you throughout your career. This change keeps you connected to fellow advocates and streamlines day one (February 28) virtual programming to include legislative updates, plus all the essentials for virtual Congressional meetings on March 1. Review the Schedule at a Glance.
• New registration options for those of you who want access to advocacy skill-building resources and programming without participating in Congressional meetings.

Why is Museums Advocacy Day 2022 virtual?

While we explored the possibility of having an in-person Museums Advocacy Day 2022, it became clear that an in-person event of this scope won’t be possible due to ongoing security measures on Capitol Hill following the January 6 insurrection and the security incidents following. It has been recommended that advocacy events of our size traditionally taking place on Capitol Hill are instead virtual through at least the first half of 2022.

Are virtual visits effective?

Since March 2020 advocates and elected officials have been engaging in productive virtual advocacy visits. Legislators, staff, and advocates—including Museums Advocacy Day 2021 participants—have expressed very positive feedback for virtual advocacy visits, reporting they have been substantive, productive conversations. Advocates have also noted that elected officials and staff may be less harried and have more time to spend with advocates during virtual visits, and have prepared for meetings ahead of time more than in the past.

What are the planned accessibility measures for Museums Advocacy Day 2022?

• The February weekly webinars will take place over Zoom and will be live captioned.
• The On-Demand Recordings that will available to attendees in February will be captioned.
• The Museums Advocacy Day 2022 Monday, February 28 virtual program will have both captioned recordings and sessions that are captioned.
• If you are participating in Congressional meetings, the majority of meetings that are scheduled for you by AAM will take place over Zoom.

Please be sure to use the related question in the online registration to let us know of any accessibility needs or contact us at museumsadvocacyday [at] aam-us [dot] org.

Registration:

What is the deadline to register?

Museums Advocacy Day 2022 registration is now closed.

We look forward to advocating for museums with hundreds of museums advocates from around the country. If you have questions or updates regarding your previously completed registration, please email museumsadvocacyday [at] aam-us [dot] org. Join us in advocating for museums today: Advocate from Anywhere.

Can I cancel my registration and receive a refund, or transfer my registration?

Cancellation requests received before January 21, 2022, will receive a refund minus a $25.00 administration fee to cover the cost of processing cancellations. Refunds are not guaranteed after January 21, 2022. All cancellation requests must be made in writing via mail, fax, or e-mail (museumsadvocacyday [at] aam-us [dot] org). Registrants who are no longer able to attend Museums Advocacy Day may request a substitution by submitting their request in writing to: museumsadvocacyday [at] aam-us [dot] org. The Alliance is not responsible for cancellation or transfer requests that are incomplete or are not received. As Congressional meetings are being scheduled by AAM for attendees, please notify us of any substitutions as soon as possible.

 

I have a question about my registration.

After you registered for Museums Advocacy Day 2022, you should receive an email receipt confirming your registration. If you have questions about your registration, please contact museumsadvocacyday [at] aam-us [dot] org.

 

Why is there a cost to register for Museums Advocacy Day?

Registration fees help offset only a portion of the cost incurred by AAM to run Museums Advocacy Day. While we estimate participation in Museums Advocacy Day to cost at least $200 per participant, the registration options are designed to be as affordable as possible for participants. Among these costs are the development and production of advocate materials, contractor services for meeting scheduling and event registration, and support for an accessible virtual platform and program.

Due to the significant increase in expenses for scheduling Congressional meetings (including those taking place virtually) in 2022, there was a very modest increase in registration costs overall. This registration structure has been designed to minimize barriers to participation while ensuring the event continues to be sustainable. 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.

For Attendees:

What can I expect leading up to Museums Advocacy Day 2022, and how can I prepare?

For all who registered: At any time, you can access our breadth of Advocacy and Advocate from Anywhere resources to learn about your legislators, deepen your own advocacy skills, and engage in year-round advocacy for museums.

In the coming weeks, you will receive additional information via email to prepare for Museums Advocacy Day 2022 to help you learn about your legislators, the legislative process, issues affecting museums, and advocacy tips and best practices. Stay tuned for details on how to access virtual programming, advocacy resources, and information about Congressional meetings (if you registered to participate in them). Important note: In order to receive our updates with these materials, please ensure you are subscribed to AAM emails by filling out this form (it will notify you if you are already subscribed), and, if you haven’t already done so, add communications [at] aam-us [dot] org to your Safe Senders list and contacts.

In February 2022, you’ll have access to on-demand recordings that you can begin to view at your own pace. Also, plan to tune in to weekly webinars in February (Wednesdays, tentatively 2 p.m. ET).

If you registered to participate in Congressional meetings: You should reserve the day of Tuesday, March 1 for virtual Congressional meetings. Here’s what to expect to prepare for your meetings:

• AAM will schedule your Congressional meetings. You will be matched based on the address and meeting information you provide during the online registration process.
• Leading up to Museums Advocacy Day 2022, you will receive your March 1 virtual Congressional meeting schedule, “leave-behind / send-ahead” materials to share with Congressional offices you meet with, and other information and materials to help you prepare for your meetings.
• All registrants are encouraged and welcomed to participate in the webinars taking place on Wednesday afternoons, either live or by accessing recordings. All advocates participating in Tuesday, March 1 Congressional meetings should especially plan to tune in for the Monday, Feb. 28 live virtual programming for all the essential information needed to advocate effectively for museums.
• You will have the opportunity to participate in virtual State/Group Delegation Breakout Meetings on Monday, February 28 to coordinate with fellow advocates participating in your Congressional meetings. These will take place at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Back to top | Registration Options | Schedule at a Glance

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More about Museums Advocacy Day:

Museums Advocacy Day is a unique opportunity to join with fellow museum professionals and supporters to speak up for museums.

Together as a field, we’ve defeated several threats to eliminate federal agencies supporting museums and helped secure billions of dollars in financial relief that enabled many museums to survive and saved thousands of museum jobs. As museums across the country work to recover and help their communities rebuild, we must keep making our case to Congress. Legislators do not know how their decisions affect museums if they don’t hear directly from you—the museums and people they represent. The skills, resources, information, and insights you’ll gain as a participant will help sustain your museum’s future and the future of the field, while building life-long skills you can use throughout your career.

We must make the case for museums.

• Lawmakers need to hear from you loud and clear the urgent and continued need for economic assistance for museums, and how you and your museum have been impacted by the pandemic and serving your community in unique and critical ways. Museums Advocacy Day harnesses our collective energy when we join together to make the case to legislators that museums are essential.

Constituents are the best advocates.

• As a constituent, you are in the best position to create lasting change. Constituent visits and interactions have a greater influence on legislators than any other group or strategy. It’s up to each of us to make the case for museums to Congress and tell the story of why museums are essential in our communities. Your constituency is your advocacy super-power.

Museums Advocacy Day is inspiring, energizing and impactful.

• Unite with museum colleagues and supporters from across the country as one voice by connecting with lawmakers to reaffirm our value, collective contributions, and aspirations. Get the information and insights you need to effectively speak up for museums. Join us for Museums Advocacy Day and be a part of our collective movement.

Museums Advocacy Day is a unique opportunity.

• Network with peers from your region, hear from federal agency and nonprofit leaders and build your own professional and leadership skills. Learn advocacy strategies and techniques you can use on Capitol Hill, during virtual visits, with your city council and state legislators, with local and regional funders, and to advocate for yourself throughout your career.

Each year the robust Program is updated to educate and inspire both new and returning advocates.

• Get timely, insider information from policy leaders and the tools and information you need to be a successful advocate for museums on Capitol Hill. Whether you are a new or seasoned advocate, you will get all the preparation you need to effectively make the case for museums – virtually, on Capitol Hill, and with your state and local elected officials.

Become an Organizational Supporter

Museums Advocacy Day would not be possible without broad, field-wide support. See the 2022 Supporters.

Empower Advocates to Raise Their Voices

You can make an individual donation to the cause today.

Ways to Advocate Today

• Check out #MuseumsAdvocacy2021 for Museums Advocacy Day 2021 highlights.
• Keep advocating for museums – COVID-19 Advocacy for Museums.
• Updated in 2021! – Invite Congress to Visit Your Museum
• Stay informed with Alliance Advocacy Alerts

Museums Advocacy Day Videos

Share inspiration from past Museums Advocacy Day attendees.

• Using Our Voice to Speak Up for Museums
• Telling Our Powerful Stories
• Working Together Toward a Common Goal

See the Advocate Materials

There are many additional ways you can advocate for museums during Museums Advocacy Day and throughout the year:

• AAM Guide to Working with a New Congress
• Advocate from Anywhere
• Advocacy Resources
• AAM Advocacy