“Champion Museums and Nurture Excellence.” It’s been the centerpiece of the Alliance’s mission for many years. And for the past 10 years, one big way Alliance members and museum advocates have championed museums is by gathering in Washington, DC for Museums Advocacy Day. The event has grown during that time, with nearly 400 advocates walking the halls of Capitol Hill in February 2017 to speak up for museums.

As participation has grown, so too have the event, logistics and food / beverage costs to AAM, even with the generous contributions of our sponsors, donors and partner organizations. To keep this program going—and growing—for the future, in 2019 there will be nominal fees to register for all participants: $25 for student members, as low as $49 for other AAM members and members of Partner, Leader and Co-convenor organizations, and as little as $99 for nonmembers. These modest fees will help make Museums Advocacy Day more sustainable while ensuring advocates have the resources they need to be successful. There’s also the option to register at higher rates and help support the cause even further by bringing fellow advocates to Museums Advocacy Day. We hope you will consider doing so if your funds allow.

We recognize the tremendous professional development opportunity this event has become for attendees, including two full days of learning, networking with peers from your state and region, and the opportunity to exercise your right to have your voice heard by your elected officials. And each year we hear from advocates how inspiring and empowering it is to unite with fellow advocates from the museum field as one voice to reaffirm our value, collective contributions, and aspirations.

If you cannot afford to pay for registration, some financial assistance will be available on a case-by-case basis. Contact us if you are interested in attending Museums Advocacy Day 2019 but have limited funds to do so.