Museums Advocacy Day

Join us virtually on February 28-March 1 for 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 visits 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. Plan to join us for Museums Advocacy Day 2022, which will take place virtually on February 28–March 1—allowing advocates to once again participate from anywhere you are.

Updates this year will help you shape your Museums Advocacy Day 2022 experience. With your feedback in mind, we’re making 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 programming events (live and on-demand) 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) programming to include legislative updates, plus all the essentials for virtual Congressional visits on day two.

• New registration options for those of you who want access to advocacy skill-building resources and programming without participating in Congressional visits.

At Museums Advocacy Day 2022 and throughout the year, you have the power to help create lasting change that can sustain museums into the future! More details are on the way, including the schedule at a glance, and registration opens soon. 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.

 

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.

What’s changing about the format of Museums Advocacy Day?

With your feedback in mind, for Museums Advocacy Day 2022 you will receive self-paced access to preparation resources, weekly webinars throughout February (live or viewed, plus, access to on-demand recordings), and the live February 28 program.

What’s new about the registration options available?

Updated options for registration including access to the Advocacy Program for those who want access to advocacy skill-building resources and programming without participating in Congressional visits. This option is ideal for first-time attendees as well as students, retirees, and museum professionals at all stages of their careers. The Advocacy in Action: Program + Visits includes access to all Advocacy Program content and adds virtual visits with members of Congress and/or their staffs, plus online schedules, tools, and notifications to prepare for effective meetings. This option is ideal for new and seasoned advocates and museum leadership and trustees who are committed to preparing for and participating in visits with their legislators’ offices.

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 interaction 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 2021 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 highlights.
• Keep advocating for museums – COVID-19 Advocacy for Museums.
• Updated for 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 2021 Advocate Materials and Museums Advocacy Day Program

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