NEMA Advocates for Museums in Washington DC

Burritt on the Mountain is reporting record growth, serving more than 11,000 students across 14 counties last year while expanding education programs and trail improvements. CEO Melanie Thornton told lawmakers the mountaintop museum plays a key role in preserving Huntsville’s identity as the region continues to grow. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/eM3mRkiQ

On Monday February 23, City Council unanimously approved $30 million over two years for the Springfield Art Museum’s renovation — a major milestone for our community. Funding comes from the voter-approved Spring Forward SGF sales tax, which dedicates ½ cent to neighborhood, street, and park improvements through the Forward SGF Comprehensive Plan. As part of that vision, this funding will allow the long-planned project to move directly forward, completing museum upgrades that support arts access, education, and cultural tourism. We can't wait to see you back at the Museum in 2028! A heartfelt thank you to the City of Springfield, City Councilmembers and Mayor Schrag for their ongoing support of the Museum's mission and service to the community. City of Springfield, Missouri Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gTKdUD6y

"Despite being exceptionally financially vulnerable, our nation's museums have stood fast in their commitment to speaking out for their neighbors and against injustice. While other institutions stay quiet or acquiesce, museums continue to stick their neck out to defend historical truth and freedom of expression.” - Dakota Russell, Executive Director The House of Seven Gables, Salem, MA As we prepared to speak with congressional leaders during Museums Advocacy Day this week, we asked museum leaders from across the region to share with us why they thought museums were important to their state. We will be sharing some of their responses throughout the week. Why do museums matter to you? You can share your thoughts with lawmakers using advocacy resources available at these links: https://ow.ly/Lkmz50Yl7hw https://ow.ly/zwmT50Yl7hx

I am very happy to share this new partnership between Books Between Kids and Children's Museum Houston. As one of the founders of Books Between Kids, it’s especially meaningful to see opportunities like this take shape in our community. The Children’s Museum is now hosting a BBK book collection bin in their Parent Resource Library. If you’re visiting the museum, consider bringing a new or gently used children’s book—and help us spread the word so more kids across Houston can build a home library of their own.

Inspire Grants for Small Museums (Inspire) is a special initiative of the Museums for America grant program designed to support small museums of all disciplines in project-based efforts to serve the public through educational programs and exhibits, community partnerships, and collections stewardship activities. The goal of the Inspire program is to build the capacity of small museums to provide museum services to their communities. Applications are due March 13. Follow this link for more info: https://lnkd.in/gX-js7Df.

Today, more than 300 museum leaders and advocates came to the capital with one shared mission: to speak up for museums. Museums transcend politics because they serve people in every state, in every community. As AAM's President & CEO, Marilyn Jackson, shared: “There is truly a museum for every person in every state.” But today wasn’t just about reminding legislators who we are. It was about reinforcing a message that resonates across every office: “Museums are economic engines.” Federal investment in museums supports new exhibits, facility upgrades, and capital improvements, investments that stimulate tourism, strengthen small businesses, and drive revenue for restaurants and hotels. Advocacy matters. Showing up matters. Informing matters. Today, the field did all three. Did you attend? Share what issue you championed in your meetings.

Is your museum interested in engaging SEND schools with your collections? 🏛️ Iggy for All is an Arts Council England funded programme by Emerald Ant which ran throughout 2024- 25, linking six SEND schools and 14 museums in Dorset and Somerset. Off of the back of the project Emerald Ant have created an Art for Engagement toolkit, which aims to help small (and large) museums plan arts workshops for schools and families around their collections. Written by Emerald Ant's Creative Director, Sarah Butterworth, it draws on over 30 years’ experience of delivering school workshops. It has sections on planning and delivering workshops, hosting outdoor theatre, an ‘Ideas Factory’ of activities you can do inspired by your museum collections, and a section on working with SEND children. You can find out more and access the toolkit on the Emerald Ant website: https://buff.ly/K0skHnI #museumeducation #SENDmusuems #museumengagement

A Decade of Impact is a new series highlighting the amazing organizations we’ve partnered with over the last ten years. 2026 is a big year for us — we’re celebrating our ten years as Cook Silverman Search, expanding our suite of services, and have many new, exciting things in store. This week's client spotlight is Oakland Museum of California. The mission of the Oakland Museum of California is to inspire understanding and empathy with stories and experiences of California’s art, history, and natural environment to build more equitable and connected communities. To learn more, go to www.museumca.org.

Campstories is thrilled to be working with the MOA (Museum of Outdoor Arts). Since 1981, the nonprofit arts organization is dedicated to making the visual and performing arts accessible to everyone by implementing its mission of "making art a part of everyday life." The MOA is a key pioneer in placing site-specific, integrated public art throughout Colorado. This month, MOA will debut their "Beyond the Western Horizon" exhibition, with an opening event March 19th. https://lnkd.in/dBkDMPEp

The March 2026 Washington Report is out! Read about a recent GAO report that highlights widespread infrastructure challenges facing U.S. museums, a new bipartisan legislation endorsed by NSC Alliance (America’s Living Library Act), and other news. https://lnkd.in/e4ZAcBtF