Museums Advocacy Day

Digital Engagement Kit for Advocates

Thank you for being a museum advocate! Below is an introduction and tools for you to get started spreading the word about Museums Advocacy Day 2024.

The graphics and sample copy in the kit below are intended to be a guide to help you engage with your networks, followers, colleagues, and peers about Museums Advocacy Day, and to encourage them to join you by advocating from anywhere before, during, and after Museums Advocacy Day. Every communication you share about advocating for museums amplifies our collective impact and adds to our museums advocacy movement, and we appreciate your participation.

For future updates: Additional materials will be added to this page as updated information becomes available. Be sure to check back here in January and February, and also ensure you’re opted-in to AAM emails to receive important Museums Advocacy Day updates (you must use the same email address you used for Museums Advocacy Day registration).

Welcome

Today’s national policy debates will impact our museums for years to come. Together, we’ve defeated several threats to eliminate federal agencies supporting museums and helped secure billions of dollars in federal relief funding for museums. Legislators do not know how their decisions affect museums if they don’t hear directly from you—the museums and people they represent.

Congress faces an enormous list of policy issues to consider, many of which can have a lasting effect on museums. Beyond federal funding for museums, there are also tax issues, education policy, and other issues that significantly impact our museum community. Museums Advocacy Day 2024 is your opportunity to keep up this momentum and impact our entire field, and the communities we serve, for years to come.

Our advocacy for museums is stronger when we speak together with one voice, and we are grateful to have you as a fellow advocate! If you have any questions about participating in Museums Advocacy Day or using the materials below, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at museumsadvocacyday [at] aam-us [dot] org.

Yours in advocacy,

Ember Farber        Barry Szczesny
Director, Advocacy        Director, Government Relations & Public Policy

 

Visit the main Museums Advocacy Day 2024 page for more information.

Talking Points

Have an opportunity to talk to others about the importance of the museum field? Use these quick facts and talking points and these social media graphics to communicate the positive impact museums have on the U.S. and the impacts the pandemic has had on them.

Graphics

Access this page for ready-made graphics you can use for Museums Advocacy Day, or for sharing advocacy materials at any time of year. Graphics are arranged by topic and sized for different platforms to meet your needs.

Advocating on Social Media During Museums Advocacy Day

Access this page for guidelines and tips on the logistics of interacting with your elected officials on social media, getting permission from legislators and their staff to share photos/screenshots, and making sure your social media posts are well-received and effective.

Sample Social Media Copy

Access this page for an extensive list of sample social media posts that can be used by anyone for Museums Advocacy Day 2024! The sample copy helps you share posts about how others can advocate from anywhere or specific tools from AAM that can help.

Additional ideas for advocates are below.

Short-form sample posts appropriate for Twitter or your platform of choice:

  • I’m advocating for #museums on February 26-27 in Washington, D.C. for #MuseumsAdvocacy2024. You can join our collective movement by advocating from anywhere you are: bit.ly/AdvAnywhere
  • Museums are economic engines, critical to our communities, and important to Americans. As a resident of [locale], I am urging you, [tag your legislators], to support the museums you represent! #MuseumsAdvocacy2024
  • Museums are important to me and [locale], because [insert why museums are important to you and your community]. I am urging you, [tag your legislators], to support our local museums! #MuseumsAdvocacy2024
  • We are all museum advocates, and it’s up to us to make the case to Congress about the unique value of #museums. Will you speak up in 2024? Visit: bit.ly/AdvAnywhere
  • Join me, [@AAMers on Twitter or tag for the platform you’re using], our partners, and hundreds of advocates across the country to speak up and urge Congress to support museums for #MuseumsAdvocacy2024. We’re meeting with legislators on February 27, but you can advocate from anywhere you are: bit.ly/AdvAnywhere

Long-form sample posts appropriate for Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or your platform of choice:

  • Museums are important to me and my community in [locale], because [insert why museums are important to you and your community]. As an advocate during #MuseumsAdvocacy2024, I am joining others across the country in urging you, [tag your legislators], to support our local museums! [If appropriate, thank them here if you are posting after a visit.]
  • [tag your legislators] – Museums are economic engines, critical to our communities, important to all Americans, and even provide powerful healthcare programs. As a resident of [locale], I am urging you to support the museums you represent. They are vital to the health and wellbeing of our community. #MuseumsAdvocacy2024
  • I’m advocating for #museums this #MuseumsAdvocacy2024. This year, I’m sharing that museums are critically important to my community because [explain]. You can join our collective movement by advocating from anywhere you are! Visit this page for the tools to get started: bit.ly/AdvAnywhere

Sample email and listserv messages

Short (for example, in a newsletter) and long-form email and listserv message samples are below. You can always customize these for your audience and readers to be most relevant to them and the issues they face while staying true to the collective purpose of Museums Advocacy Day.

Encourage your readers to participate virtually from anywhere they are (do not use after January 19, 2024, when registration closes):

  • We must make the case for museums.
    The nation’s museum community continues to face the dire impacts of the pandemic. While there has been some improvement in our field’s recovery, the crisis isn’t over for museums or for museum workers across the country. Supporting this recovery requires decisive action from Congress beyond previous economic relief legislation. Even as museums still continue to experience significant losses in revenue following the pandemic, they are meeting an increase in demand for their services and supporting their communities. Join our collective movement by speaking up for museums February 26-27 from anywhere you are, and share or follow along on social media using #MuseumsAdvocacy and #MuseumsAdvocacy2024. Learn more how you can get involved: bit.ly/AdvAnywhere

After the registration deadline has passed on January 19, 2024, as Museums Advocacy Day 2024 is approaching, please encourage those who may not be able to attend this year to advocate from anywhere they are:

  • Have your legislators heard from you lately?
    Congress faces an enormous list of policy issues to consider, many of which can have a lasting impact on museums. Beyond federal funding and COVID-19 relief in recent years, there’s tax reform, education policy, and other issues that significantly affect the museum community. Join us by standing up for museums during Museums Advocacy Day 2024! Learn how to advocate from anywhere and get engaged on social media using #MuseumsAdvocacy2024.
  • It’s up to us to make the case for museums.
    Today’s national policy debates will impact our museums for years to come. As constituents, you are in the best position to create lasting change. Constituent visits have a greater influence on legislators than any other group or strategy. It’s up to you to make the case for museums to Congress and tell your story of why museums are important to you and your community! Stand up for museums by advocating from anywhere, and get engaged on social media using #MuseumsAdvocacy2024.
  • Will your voice be heard?
    Our Alliance’s advocacy efforts in 2020 and 2021 led to over 62,000 messages sent to Congress, helping secure billions of dollars in federal relief funding in response to this crisis. But the crisis isn’t over for museums or for museum workers across the country. This year, it’s more important than ever that all museums are represented at Museums Advocacy Day 2024. You can advocate for museums in your community, and across the nation, from wherever you are. Learn how to advocate from anywhere, and get engaged on social media using #MuseumsAdvocacy2024.

Long-form copy samples:

  • We must make the case for museums in 2024
    Museums Advocacy Day is inspiring, energizing, and impactful. You can advocate for museums in your community, and across the nation, from wherever you are.The nation’s museum community is grappling with an ongoing recovery from the dire impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. While there have been some signs of recovery for museums, the crisis is not over for museums or for museum professionals. Addressing this situation requires decisive action from Congress beyond previous economic relief legislation.Even as museums have experienced closures and significant losses in revenue, they are meeting an increase in demand for their services and safeguarding and supporting their communities. Museums are contributing to the ongoing education of our country’s children by providing lesson plans, online learning opportunities, and drop-off learning kits to teachers and families. They are using their outdoor spaces to grow and donate produce to area food banks, as well as maintaining these spaces for individuals to safely relax, enjoy nature, and recover from the mental health impacts of social isolation. They have provided access to childcare and meals to families of health care workers and first responders. Museums are even serving as vaccination sites across our country and acting as knowledge centers combating vaccine hesitancy in their communities, and they have donated their PPE and scientific equipment to fight COVID-19.Join us to ensure Congress knows that museums are critical to our nation’s communities. Be a part of our collective movement by advocating from anywhere you are using these tools. Check out these Museums Advocacy Day success stories and join the conversation on social media using #MuseumsAdvocacy2024.
  • Join us by standing up for museums during Museums Advocacy Day 2024
    Museums have a continued fight ahead of us. Today’s national policy debates will impact our museums for years to come. Congress faces an enormous list of policy issues to consider, many of which can have a lasting impact on museums. Beyond federal funding and COVID-19 relief, there’s tax reform, education policy, and other issues that significantly affect museums’ ability to serve our communities. Legislators do not know how their decisions affect museums if they don’t hear directly from you—the people they represent. As constituents, you are in the best position to create lasting change. Constituent visits have a greater influence on legislators than any other group or strategy. It’s up to you to make the case for museums to Congress and tell your story of why museums are important to you and your community!Museums Advocacy Day is an inspiring, energetic, and impactful event taking place virtually on February 26-27. Be a part of our collective movement by advocating from anywhere you are using these tools and by joining the conversation on social media using #MuseumsAdvocacy2024.

Web Links to Use

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