PUBLICK OCCURRENCES — MARCH 19, 2020
Urge Your Legislators to Include Large and Small Museums and Historic Sites in COVID-19 Relief and Economic Stimulus
The most trusted sources of information and community engagement in America have gone dark. We are experiencing a crisis, the scope of which is still evolving but the impact of which is already being felt by museums and historical organizations across the state. We need to be included in any legislative plans for relief and economic stimulus. How do we get that done? Sure, some of us can come up with talking points or impact statements emphasizing how important our collective institutions are to the national or local economy. But what really might hit home are real stories about the on-going consequences of the COVID-19 emergency on our museums and history sites.
Several weeks ago, I joined hundreds of museum supporters in Washington D.C. who come together each year for Museum Advocacy Day. I met museum professionals, volunteers and just plain fans, who came from across the country for the sole purpose of asserting the critical value of museums to their legislators. Under the auspices of the American Alliance for Museums and guided by experienced promoters from the ILMS, NEH and NEA, we practiced how to effectively communicate our passion to our Congressional representatives, using statistics, facts and concise language.
The following day, our Massachusetts contingent, led by the savvy advocacy veterans at the New England Museum Association, visited the offices of our State’s two Senators and five Representatives. As expected, we met only staffers. And as anticipated, our carefully rehearsed appeals were appreciated for their brevity and the relatively innocuous nature of the ask.
But what turned tolerance into attentiveness were the stories. The otherwise blank-eyed minions of our elected officials perked up when we went past our scripts to share stories about our sites, recent exhibits or awesome collection items. They instantly recalled their special moments in museums and quickly recognized the potential value of authentic and impactful interactions in our communities.
The most trusted sources of information and community engagement in America have gone dark, we hope temporarily. And now, many museums and sites are putting free content online to enrich the experience of parents home with school children. They are providing a needed service during the crisis.
— Eric Peterson, Waterworks Museum
The Mass History Alliances urges you to tell your story to our legislative representatives now and tell them to include large and small Museums and Historic Sites