The American Alliance for Museums reports that 96% of Americans would like their elected representatives to do more for museums. Yet museums are being attacked by the politicians those people elected. It’s time for us, together, to ask our constituents to speak up for us.
Cause-based nonprofits have been asking for help from their supporters for years, but cultural organizations have never adopted those tactics. We’ve been concerned about appearing too partisan–but there’s nothing partisan about speaking up for museums.
If you would like to help in this effort, join our list with your email address below. If you have a great idea for how to use online activism in support of museums, share that too!
Other people have suggested …
advocating for freedom of expression, reaching out on social media, contacting reps in all states, i am open to additional suggestions
I’d share on social media, in essays I write, and to communicate with state and national politicians
Write representatives. I am retired, but doing lots of volunteer work…. I live in a blue state, but willing to let my reps know that we are paying to attention not only to “affordability” issues, but cultural freedom issues. Also willing to write reps in red states.
I volunteer twice a week at a museum and visit others with friends . I share news with art friends. I host a regular sketching group in a museum.
I work for a State run museum, so I would need to be careful not to advocate during work hours, or using my state computer/ID. However, I can be active outside of that. Advocating for the cultural sector is vital to healthy living and cultural tourism ($$$$). I think the “Museum Monday” idea is fabulous!
What if we had something like giving Tuesday, but it was supporters’ Thursday, the day that as many museums as possible asked their supporters to speak up for them with local, state, and federal reps?
Museums are under attack both politically and financially — and they can’t weather the political attacks without funding. I think we need to come together in their defense, and show the size of our movement to the legislators who (by law) decide where funding goes.
I feel like nobody really wanted NEA, NEH, and IMLS shut down. Every museum in the country should pick one day on which to ask their supporters to speak up and request that their members of congress put that funding back.
PMA, Mural Arts, and Barnes Foundation could have motivated their supporters to stand up for the Painted Bride building.